Tag Archives: crash

Motorcycle News, News

Free motorcycle first-aid course offered

Leave a comment

If you come across a rider down, have you done a first-aid course so you know how to apply relevant emergency aid?

There are various motorcycle-specific first-aid courses offered around the country, but Tweed Heads Council is offering a first-aid workshop for free next weekend (Saturday 23 November 2019) at the Pottsville Beach Community Hall.

Not only is it free, but participants will receive a Towards Zero tool kit, neck warmer, wiping cloth and reusable coffee cup. Afternoon tea during the four-hour course will also be provided.

You don’t have to be a Tweed resident as all riders who ride the area’s beautiful roads are welcome. Bookings are essential as they only have room for 40 riders. You can book by emailing Alana Brooks [email protected].

The Gold Coast hinterland has a heap of attractions for riders including winding roads, a Red Rattler with an Iron and Resin finish, writes local rider and MBW contributor Todd Parkes.
Tweed roads are popular with riders

Tailored course

Alana says the workshop is provided by Pulse Start Training Solutions.

“The trainers are all keen riders with a combined riding and instructing experience of more than 60 years, as well as professional job experience as paramedics,” she says.

“Pulse Start Training Solutions has tailored its motorcycle first-aid course for Tweed Shire Council so we can offer the workshop to more riders free of charge through our Local Government Road Safety Program.”

The usual cost of the full course is $140.

This workshop is non-accredited and only covers first-aid for motorcycle crashes.

“More than 180 riders have participated in the various motorcycle safety workshops we have offered over the past three years,” Alana says.

“For this workshop, we can take up to 40 riders each session. Pulse Start has four trainers delivering the course.

“There is no riding component but the first-aid course is very hands-on with helmet removal training, CPR practice dummies and crash scene management scenarios.”

The workshop also gives participants advice on the latest safety gear and safe riding practices.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Satnav app adds traffic light countdown

Leave a comment

A satellite navigation app that has a countdown to how long a traffic light will change has been recognised as a CES 2020 Innovation Awards honoree.

The Slovakian Sygic navigation app used by more than 200 million drivers globally has a new and free Traffic Lights countdown add-on.

It is only working in the US at the moment with plans to be introduced in Europe in 2020. There is no scheduled release time yet for Australia.

How the countdown worksRed-light traffic light

The Traffic Lights countdown add-on does not trigger a green light.

That’s a particular issue with riders whose motorcycles may not be large enough to be detected by the induction loop cut into the pavement. Click here to read more about triggering green lights.

Instead, the Sygic add-on displays a green or red light countdown timer at each traffic light.

They claim it will encourage motorists to slow down, increasing safety at intersections, reducing CO2 emissions and improve traffic flow.

Sygic CEO Martin Strigac says their artificial intelligence add-on “will have a major impact on safety and the time of arrival”.

“The kit will be continuously upgraded with additional assistance features, including detection of speed-limit signs, lanes, and obstacles on the road, and collision detection,” he says.

“We are also exploring the idea of integrating it with rail-crossing warning systems.”

CommentsTraffic Lights

Two out of every three motorcycle accidents (66.7%) occur at intersections and motorists running red lights is one of the major causes of those crashes.

Anything that can reduce that would be welcome.

However, we are unsure if a countdown feature for a green light to turn red might actually encourage motorists to speed up to catch the light.

Also, a countdown to a red light turning green might encourage motorists to jump the lights.

We are also concerned that drivers who already don’t look for motorcyclists might be more intent on watching their satnav traffic light countdown feature than scanning the road for riders.

Technology is great when it is proven to increase safety, but the jury is still out on this, as far as we are concerned.

Meanwhile, the CES 2020 Innovation jury of 82 technology experts says the Sygic GPS Navigation’s Traffic Lights add-on “showcased innovative features that scored highly across the evaluation criteria and joins a special group of other products given this honour.” 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Driver gets order over motorcycle crash

Leave a comment

A Sydney driver has today been sentenced to a two-year community corrections order after hitting and injuring a motorcyclist in September 2019.

The 29-year-old woman, Perpetual Dzikunu, received a community corrections order for two years from today (Tuesday 12 November 2019) after hitting a 63-year-old rider and severely injuring his foot on 1 September 2019.

Her Toyota Aurion turned right from a driveway on to King Street, Randwick, and hit the motorcycle heading east.Driver court order NSW Policeo

Corrections order

Dzikunu had faced up to a $2200 fine and/or imprisonment for up to nine months for a first-time offence.

The NSW community corrections order (CCO) is a new penalty that last year replaced the previous community service order. It is considered more serious.

Judges are also able to impose conditions that are tailored to the offender to ensure they don’t reoffend by targeting the offending behaviour, such as drug or alcohol addiction, or mental health issues.

NSW Courts would not reveal the conditions imposed by the Waverely Local Court judge.

Driveway crashes

This is yet another incident of a crash where a vehicle is turning into or coming out of a driveway.

In the same month, a 51-year-old man died when his motorcycle was hit by a 4WD attempting to turn into a driveway in Parkinson, south of Brisbane.

Most accidents happen close to home.

It seems motorists switch off as they get near home, or don’t switch on until they have driven away from home.

Riders should always be switched on.

They should be especially aware when riding in the suburbs or in the country past driveways.

A particularly deadly driveway scenario can occur on country roads where a vehicle slows without indicating.

The following rider assumes the driver is pulling over, so they overtake just as the driver decides to turn across their path into their driveway.

The result can be fatal.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Two riders in NSW and Queensland crashes

Leave a comment

One rider has died and another seriously injured in separate crashes in NSW and Queensland overnight.

Blacktown collision

In NSW, a 22-year-old man from Lalor Park died at the scene of a collision with a Toyota utility in Blacktown, western Sydney, at 8.30pm (9 November 2019).

The collision occurred at the intersection of Sunnyholt Road, and Main Street.

The 52-year-old male driver from Lalor Park was uninjured and taken to Blacktown Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Officers from Blacktown Police Area Command established a crime scene and are investigating.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Our condolences to the rider’s family and friends.

Police are calling for witnesses or motorists with dashcam video to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Queensland fatal

A 42-year-old male rider has suffered serious internal injuries after falling from his motorcycle about 6pm in Drayton, Toowoomba.

Members of the community rendered first aid to the man prior to the arrival of emergency services.

Paramedics transported the man to Toowoomba Hospital before he was later flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Our sincere best wishes to the rider for a full and speedy recovery.

Despite Queensland Police appealing for witnesses and dashcam video, their official media release says “the rider lost control while attempting to turn a corner”.

The unfortunate statement is presumptuous and may suggest to the public that riders are reckless and don’t deserve motorists’ consideration.

Such statements are all too common by police.

There could be many causes for the crash such as road conditions, medical problem, stray animals, another vehicle, etc.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Concern over truck flip on wire rope barriers

Leave a comment

Concern for the safety of all motorists, including motorcyclists, has been expressed in the wake of a fatal truck flip over wire rope barriers near Melbourne this morning (4 November 2019).

The truck hit the wire rope barriers (WRBs) on the Princes Freeway at Werribee South about 3.20am, flipped over and landed on its roof, killing the driver.

Truck wire rope barriers WRBs
(Above two images courtesy Seven Network)

One year ago a Bad Roads Rally in Melbourne called for the immediate halt to the rollout of WRBs.

Other states are also adding more WRBs, including NSW where they are being installed on the Pacific Highway at Chinderah in the far north of the state. The work is expected to be completed in about five weeks with traffic reduced to one lane.

wire rope barriers WRBs
New wire rope barriers at Chinderah

Runoff, not barriers

University of Melbourne Chair of Statistics and bike rider Prof Richard Huggins says “motorcycle safety requires runoff areas rather than barriers”.

“If there must be barriers, it must be demonstrated that in the event of a crash they are less injurious to riders than if there were no barriers,” he says.

The professor points out that European research found that the rider was still  upright on impact in half of all crashes and was thrown over the barrier.

“After this morning’s crash it seems trucks and other large vehicles flipping over the barriers is similarly not considered,” he says.”

wire rope barriers WRBs
Installing WRBs

The Australian Motorcycle Council believes that any safety barrier construction in Australia should be “of a standard and a fit to cause the least injury to a rider or pillion than if there were no barrier”.  

“WRBs have been shown to be more dangerous to riders than other types of barrier and are less likely to meet this criteria,” they say.

In the AMC position statement, they say there is not enough research into the effect of WRBs and they refute authorities’ claims that WRBs are cheaper.

“A Swedish research paper has studied the ‘whole of life’ costs of barriers and found that wire rope barrier is the most expensive, probably due to it having to repaired after minor impacts,” they claim.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

White line fine hypocritical, says rider

Leave a comment

A rider who clipped an unbroken white line at the end of a painted traffic island on the Centenary Motorway, Brisbane, has had his fine upheld in court.

Tristan Holland claims it is hypocritical for Queensland Police to fine him while not fining the driver whose car he it when it performed an illegal u-turn across double white lines.

He claims he didn’t touch the white line and challenged the matter in court.

Police relied on blurry photographic evidence from a body cam taken about 90m from the scene.

Tristan Holland police hypocrisy white line
Police infringement notice photo

Tristan says the fine was upheld in court last week.

“The magistrate stated that if it was on the basis of the video footage alone it would have been thrown out,” he says.

“When I mentioned safety during cross examining the QPS officer I was shut down as it was deemed not relevant.

“At the end of the day the officer stated that that intersection is notorious for this offence to occur so ergo the offence was deemed to have happened even though his line of sight at distance (90m) was impaired.”

White line hypocrisy

Meanwhile, Tristan says a driver who caused him to crash his motorcycle into their car after dangerously crossing a painted traffic island has not been fined by police.

“This morning I had a car do an illegal u-turn off a ‘turn left with care’ slip road right in front of me leaving me with nowhere to go,” says Tristan who was “battered and bruised”.

His 2016 Suzuki Hayabusa was damaged, but still rideable.

Tristan Holland police hypocrisy
Tristan’s Busa at the scene of the crash

He reported the crash to Police Link, but says it was deemed a “non-reportable traffic incident” because no one was taken away in an ambulance.

“That means the QPS will not investigate nor issue any infringement notice to the driver,” Tristan says.

U-turn rider slams police hypcrisy crash accident traffic offence
Red Busa dent on door

“There is no doubt the crash occurred because of the damage to the car’s door and my bike, plus the driver admitted fault to his insurance company.

“So why no infringement notice?U-turn rider slams police hypcrisy crash accident traffic offence

“I find it interesting that QPS will not investigate this, but will hound drivers/riders for allegedly crossing a solid white line based on questionable video footage from 90m away.

“So if you break the law, cause an accident, provided no one is injured, then you don’t loose any demerit points.

“But, if you break the law, hurt no one and police have video footage you are treated like a criminal.

“On the plus side, the driver has accepted liability for repairs. I will have to wait until 2020 to see if they accept liability for CTP insurance.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Rider, 71, dies in Snowy Mts collision

Leave a comment

A 71-year-old male rider has died after a collision with a car in the Snowy Mountains, Victoria, yesterday (1 November 2019).

The collision happened about 3.15pm on the Barry Way, Jindabyne, near Tinworth Drive.

Police say the rider died at the scene “despite efforts to revive him”.

It is not yet known whether the rider was a local, heading home from the MotoGP last weekend or taking part in this weekend’s Honda Snowy Ride.

The scene of the crash is a straight section of bitumen road just on the edge of town near a sports centre.

The Barry Way is an epic 200km mostly gravel road that follows the Snowy River down toward the south east coast and is a favourite for adventure riders.

Monaro Police District officers established a crime scene and have begun investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

No charges have been laid.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the rider.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Driver charged over motorbike collision

Leave a comment

A driver has been charged with negligence after allegedly driving through a give way sign and hitting a motorcyclist in Sydney’s west yesterday.

NSW Police will allege the 30-year-old man was driving a Volkswagen Passat west along Cabramatta Road West.

He allegedly drove through a Give Way sign without stopping and hit the motorbike being ridden by a 28-year-old man.

The rider was thrown from his bike and suffered significant injuries including a fractured shoulder, pelvis and hip, as well as serious cuts and abrasions.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Liverpool Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

The scene was examined by officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit and the driver of the vehicle was arrested.

Driver charged

Fairfield Police Station charged nsw
Fairfield Police Station

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

His licence was suspended, and he was given conditional bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, 20 November 2019.

If found guilty, the driver could face up to seven years in jail.

Our sincere best wishes to the rider for a full and speedy recovery.

Comment

We can’t comment on a matter that is before the courts.

This website not only reports on crashes, but endeavours to follow up on resulting court cases.

In some cases justice takes a while.

For example, there are still no charges laid over the inicdent in which a Kia Rio on the wrong side of the road hit four riders, killing one and injuring three, in Kyogle on 20 October 2019.

Car ploughed into riders month
Image: Seven News

It’s been a tragic month on NSW roads with eight people killed and numerous injured.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Tragic month for NSW and Queensland riders

Leave a comment

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

Rider dies in Waterfall Way crash
Spring rider

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 crashesnsw cops police Horror bike crashes in two states lying seeking dubbo overnight bail negligent SUV young

These are the crashes on NSW in October:

Queensland crashesDayGlo Queensland Police witnesses single

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

Motorcycle News, News

Young male rider dies in motorcycle crash

Leave a comment

A young male rider has died after his motorcycle crashed on the NSW Mid-North Coast overnight. (28 October 2019).

Police say the accident happened about 7.35pm in Wallace Street, Macksville.

They say the 23-year-old rider “lost control on a bend and was thrown from his bike”.

Sadly the young rider died at the scene.

Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.

Officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District and NSW Ambulance paramedics attended.

A crime scene was established and officers have started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Single-vehicle crashes

We’ve previously expressed concerns about reports of “single-vehicle motorcycle crashes” and comments such as “rider lost control”.

Such reports are presumptuous as they are released prior to a proper accident investigation and a Coroner’s report.

However, Coroner reports can take some time and may not yield a conclusive result.

In the end, it gets written up as rider error or “speed”. But surely the cause should be “unknown”.

There are many other possible innocent explanations for “single-vehicle crashes” including mechanical failure, gravel, oil spill, stray livestock or wildlife, especially in rural areas.

None of these presumes the rider was at fault.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com