It’s been a tragic month for riders in NSW and Queensland where 11 people have died as warmer weather has more venturing out on the road.

In the past two days, two riders have died on NSW roads.

The latest fatality involves a motorcyclist and a school bus colliding in South Nowra about 6.45am today (Tuesday 29 October 2019).

The young male rider died in the crash at the intersection of Flinders Road and Bellevue Street.

As is the usual practice, police have taken the uninjured bus driver to hospital for mandatory testing.

There were no passengers on the bus.

A cause has not yet been revealed and a brief will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Statistical spike

Let’s hope it is the end of the carnage for October which has seen the usual spike in motorcycle crashes as more riders hit the roads for spring.

While Queensland riders are out year-round, some NSW riders hibernate their bikes over winter and come out in spring for leisure and commuting.

Over the past month there have been seven riders killed on NSW roads and four in Queensland.

We can probably expect a knee-jerk reaction from politicians and police in response, but it is mainly a seasonal situation.

Motorcycle deaths in NSW up to the end of September were slightly up on last year, but down over the past four years.

In Queensland, rider deaths were down a substantial 16.6% by the end of September. 

Thankfully, there were no known rider deaths in Victoria this month. However, a tragic start to the year has Victorian rider deaths up about 28% over the previous year and the five-year average.

NSW crashes

These are the crashes on NSW in October:

• A male rider died after his motorcycle struck a telegraph pole in Ingleburn, south-west Sydney, on 12 October.
• A man in his 50s died after a collision with a car on Waterfall Way, near Bellingen, on October 18.
• Two riders died on October 19, one a male rider, 45, who crashed on a gravel road in the far west of NSW, the other a 59-year-old man after coming off his motorbike in the state’s Northern Region.
• The next day, a Kia Rio ploughed head-on into four motorcyclists in Kyogle, northern NSW, killing one and injuring three riders. No charges have yet been laid.
• On 22 October, police a motorcyclist died in a truck collision at the intersection of Windsor Road and Pitt Town Road.
• Yesterday a 23-year-old male died in a crash when his bike left the road in Macksville.

Queensland crashes

Our sincere condolences to all the families and friends of those lost and our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to those injured.

We would rather not report on crashes, but we hope the articles prompt readers to take even more caution and responsibility for their own safety.

Seeking cause and blame won’t heal broken bodies.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com