"Drop the ego, not the bike"

Above: From left - DNA academy CEO and rider coach Mark McVeigh, RACQ Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker, Trauma Surgeon and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ Queensland Trauma Committee Chair Professor Martin Wullschleger

RACQ is pleading with motorcycle riders to slow down as figures show Mt Glorious Tourist Drive and hinterland roads are among the state’s most dangerous.

Of 21,500km of state-controlled roads analysed by RACQ, popular hinterland routes for riders topped the list for fatal and serious injury (FSI) crash rates.

None were worse than Mount Glorious Tourist Drive, which includes Samford Valley, Mt Nebo and Jollys Lookout.

Of the 59 FSI crashes on Mount Glorious Tourist Drive between 2019 and 2023, a confronting 92 per cent (54) involved a motorcycle.

“The data paints a terrifyingly clear picture. Too many motorcycle riders are pushing their limits on hinterland roads and paying severe consequences for it,” RACQ Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker said.

“On Mount Glorious Tourist Drive, 80 per cent of fatal and serious injury motorcycle crashes were single vehicle, 74 per cent were on the weekends, 94 per cent of those were on a curve and 96 per cent were in daylight with clear and dry conditions.

“Hinterland roads are not designed to be used like a racetrack – they're for transport. They are often narrow, covered in slippery leaf litter, and lack safety design features.

“Ride to the conditions, don’t get competitive and don’t break the law because your life matters. Please drop the ego, not the bike.”

RACQ is also calling on the State Government to investigate ways to better enforce speed limits on hinterland roads.

“We believe measures like portable point-to-point speed cameras would be effective at reducing crash rates, particularly on hinterland roads,” Mr Tucker said.

Trauma Surgeon and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ Queensland Trauma Committee Chair Professor Martin Wullschleger said taking risks on motorcycles can lead to devastating consequences.

“I’ve seen far too many injured motorcyclists, spanning from fatal and life changing brain injuries, to men with shattered pelvises and genitals after their pelvises hit the fuel tanks on initial impact," he said.

"Others came off second best with shattered arms and legs, sometimes needing multiple reconstructive operations or even amputations.”

DNA academy CEO and rider coach Mark McVeigh said overconfidence is often a killer.

The ex-MotoGP engineer and racer founded training organisation motoDNA after losing his best mate in a motorcycle crash 40 years ago.

“Riders need to have a ‘learn for life’ mindset and embrace training which is not just about machine control skills and road-craft but also the mental approach,” Mr McVeigh said.