Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol crack down on motorbike deaths

Police continue to beg for common sense from ‘vulnerable’ motorcyclists as the road toll climbs and they pull one over for allegedly doing a blistering speed.

As Sunshine Coast Police reveal the startling statistic that five out of nine deaths on the region’s roads this year have been motorbike riders, traffic police clocked a rider allegedly travelling 134kmh in a 60 zone.

The 28-year-old Forest Glen man was riding his uninsured Yamaha MT09 at more than twice the legal limit on Sandalwood Lane at Forest Glen on May 24.

Police dashcam footage captures the motorbike speeding past a police vehicle.

When officers pull over the motorcyclist, the rider said he was “kind of going fast” when he passed the unmarked police car.

“You know how many people crash on bikes, when they’re heading home or they’re on the way home or they’re just giving it that one last blat,” the police officer said.

As police plead with riders to use caution, Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol detected a motorbike rider allegedly travelling 134km/h in a 60 zone on Sandalwood Lane at Forest Glen on May 24. Picture: Contributed/Queensland Police Service

The rider replied and said he had heard a statistic regarding “80 per cent” of incidents happening near home.

The rider has also been charged with riding without a driver’s licence and being under the influence of cannabis.

A motorcyclist was pulled over in Forest Glen on May 24. Contributed/Queensland Police Service

He received a $258 traffic ticket for the use of an unregistered motorbike and a $1854 fine and eight demerit points for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40kmh.

The man also received a 24-hour driver’s licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a notice to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 12.

Motorbike riders and passengers account for 27 per cent of lives lost on Queensland roads, yet they account for only five per cent of vehicles registered on the road.

Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said motorbike riders are one of the most vulnerable road users.

“Motorbikes can be hard to see and the riders have less protection than those in cars so are more likely to be injured if there is a crash,” Snr Sgt Panoho said.

Of the nine deaths on Sunshine Coast roads this year, five have been motorcyclists. Contributed/Queensland Police Service

“Though all motorists need to commit to increasing their caution and awareness for motorbikes, riders also need to take responsibility for their own road safety.

“Police are committed to reducing the number of people injured or killed on our roads through proactive high-visibility and covert operations, but we need the community to partner with us.

“Riding a motorbike is fun but can be a dangerous activity if not ridden correctly. All too often we see motorbike riders not taking the responsibility of their powerful bike seriously and riding recklessly on our roads, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

“Speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts and driving while tired or distracted are all major contributors to lives lost on our roads yet we still see these happen on our roads most days.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol crack down on motorbike deaths