Spotlight on motorcycle safety

Published 5:00am 27 April 2023

Words by Jodie Powell

Hundreds of motorcyclists across the Moreton Bay Region will be better equipped on our roads thanks to an innovative program organised by local police.

Acting Senior-Sergeant Sarah Grayson says the How to Keep It UP-RIGHT program, funded by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, is giving 200 people the opportunity to take part in a day-long practical course to learn essential road craft, cornering and braking skills.

It follows a safety campaign last year, Motorcycles The Shiny Side Up, which launched after a sharp spike in the number of motorcyclists killed in the region.

She says the first of the training sessions, on April 22, was a huge success and the first three sessions had sold out, but more were available later in the year.

Sen-Sgt Grayson says that with Queensland Road Safety Week in August, education about riding safely is crucial, with the number of motorcyclists who’ve died on the region’s roads already higher than at the same time last year.

“We’re doing a lot of education in the community and a lot of the feedback was people would really like to participate in some training,” she says.

“There’s new riders, riders who want a refresher and people who haven’t ridden for ages.

“Because had such a great response to Motorcycles The Shiny Side Up, it seemed logical to continue the great work with training.”

Discover Mount Mee

Sen-Sgt Grayson says more than 800 people have taken part in How to Keep It UP-RIGHT in Brisbane’s south, but the Moreton Bay program is unique because participants will learn how to ride Mount Mee safely.

“There’s always lots of interest in riding Mount Mee and Mount Glorious,” she says.

“There are some spots on the ride where the road is not the best - you’ve really got to be focussed on those minute details.”

Acting Senior-Sergeant Mark Johnston says men aged between 21 and 59 account for most motorcycle fatalities, which are more likely to occur on weekends.

“Thirty-seven percent of all fatalities are motorcycle riders,” Sen-Sgt Johnston says.

“One in 20 vehicles (five percent) registered in Queensland is a motorcycle – there’s an over-representation in crashes.”

He says speed is a contributing factor, as are inattention and distraction.

“We’re not saying all fatalities are the rider’s fault,” Sen-Sgt Johnston says.

“The number one cause of death is vehicles turning right in front of (motorcyclists).

“Your survival depends on your concentration, anticipation and judgement as a bike rider.”

Involving children

To create more awareness among motorists, Sen-Sgt Grayson, together with Senior-Constable Jamie Buley, have designed a booklet with games and colouring-in pages for children to use while travelling in the car.

“One of the games asks them to count how many motorbikes they see on the trip,” she says.

“That’s helping get the message across to the driver too.”