Tag Archives: crash

Third Queensland rider dies in past week

A third Queensland rider has died in the past week after a 32-year-old man hit a tree on his motorcycle at 1.30am today in Forest Lake.

Police Forensic Crash Unit investigations say he was travelling west on Johnson Road when he “failed to negotiate a left-hand bend, left road and collided with a tree”.

“The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Investigations are continuing.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Rider deaths

So far this year 16 riders and pillions have died on Queensland roads which is one more than last year and about 50% down on the three previous years.RIP fallen riders crash lone

Last Saturday (18 May 2019), moped rider Umberto Williams, 32, of East Brisbane, died in a crash in Windsor, north Brisbane.

Police allege the BMW SUV was travelling northbound on Lutwyche Rd when it collided with the moped also heading north.

The BMW then veered into the southbound lanes and collided with a Subaru sedan driven by a 23-year-old Acacia Ridge man before also colliding with a Jeep.

Umberto and the Subaru driver died at the scene.

A 37-year-old Burpengary man has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and one of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm (excessive speed and fail to remain scene).

Yesterday, a 43-year-old rider passed away in hospital after being involved in a collision with a ute at a Kingaroy intersection on Thursday.

Police Forensic Crash Unit investigations indicate that the rider was heading east on Haly St about 1.50pm when his bike collided with the passenger side of a Ford utility turning from Glendon St.

The rider was thrown from the motorcycle on to the road.

A staff member of the Commercial Hotel on the corner says the ambulance “worked on the rider for some time”.

He was taken to Kingaroy Hospital before being airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he passed away last night.

“There was damage to the passenger side door,” the hotel staffer says.

The ute’s driver, a 62-year-old man, was not injured in the crash.

Kingaroy Police say “no charges have been laid at this time”.

Riders dies after intersection collision
Haly St and Glendon St in Kingaroy

The crash occurred in a 50km/h area and Kingaroy Police say “speed may have been a contributing factor” but would not say which vehicle was speeding.

Police have not yet released the names of the rider or driver.

The Commercial Hotel worker says the rider and 62-year-old man driving the ute were both locals, but she did not know their names.

Investigations are continuing.

Our sincere condolences to the riders’ families and friends.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Riders dies after intersection collision

A 43-year-old rider has passed away in hospital overnight after being involved in a collision with a ute at a Kingaroy intersection yesterday (23 May 2019).

Police Forensic Crash Unit investigations indicate that the rider was heading east on Haly St about 1.50pm when his bike collided with the passenger side of a Ford utility turning from Glendon St.

Riders dies after intersection collision
The rider was heading along Haly St and the ute came from Glendon St on the right (All images from Google Maps)

The rider was thrown from the motorcycle on to the road.

A staff member of the Commercial Hotel on the corner says the ambulance “worked on the rider for some time”.

He was taken to Kingaroy Hospital before being airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he passed away last night.

“There was damage to the passenger side door,” the hotel staffer says.

The ute’s driver, a 62-year-old man, was not injured in the crash.

Kingaroy Police say “no charges have been laid at this time”.

Riders dies after intersection collision
Haly St and Glendon St in Kingaroy

The crash occurred in a 50km/h area and Kingaroy Police say “speed may have been a contributing factor” but would not say which vehicle was speeding.

Police have not yet released the names of the rider or driver.

The Commercial Hotel worker says the rider and 62-year-old man driving the ute were both locals, but she did not know their names.

Investigations are continuing.

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

So far this year 15 riders and pillions have died on Queensland roads. That is the same number as last year and about 50% down on the three previous years.

Intersection crashes

Two out of every three accidents (66.7%) occur at intersections, according to the 2017 US Motorcycle Crash Causation Study.

Most accidents involving motorcycles and other vehicles occur when the other vehicle is turning across their path.

The result can be lethal as the rider hits the car in a t-bone fashion, rather than a glancing blow.

Check our tips for avoiding these types of crashes.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Grass clippings a real risk for riders

Riders should add grass clippings to their list of road hazards and stay alert, take avoidance action and consider reporting the hazard to authorities.

Grass clippings can not only be a slip hazard for motorcyclists, especially if they get wet, but also the dry grass can blow up into a rider’s eyes, blinding them.

As the United States celebrates May as Motorcycle Awarensss Month, American rider groups are alerting other riders and authorities to the dangers of clippings on the road.

In fact, some states such as North Carolina and Pennsylvania are now considering making it illegal to blow lawn clippings on to a road.

Grass clippings illegalgrass clippings road hazard

However, it’s already illegal in Australia to dump any substance on a road that could cause injury or damage. Fines range up to more than $4000 and/or six months in jail.

Yet we continue to see clippings left on the road by lazy and negligent slashing contractors and farmers, or deliberately blown on to the road by ignorant homeowners.

Contractors and council workers cutting grass on roadsides and median strips are obliged to put out appropriate warning signs.

Riders should slow down and be alert if they see these signs, mowing or slashing equipment on the roadside, or other hints that grass has recently been cut.

They should also do their best to alert other riders either by waving to slow down or maybe posting a photo on social media.

Report hazards

Riders should also report road hazards such as grass clippings to road authorities.

Grass clippings are considered as much a road hazard by authorities as gravel, sand, oil or other substances.

You can report hazards on local roads to the relevant local council.

If the hazard is on a state road, report it to the state authorities:

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Readers support helmet scanning service

More than 70% of respondents to a survey have supported a $40 helmet scanning service to check for hidden fractures in your helmet.

The Helmet Doctors who developed the helmet laser-scanning invention say it would give riders peace of mind that their helmet is safe to use after a drop or crash, or whether it needs to be replaced.

The Sunshine Coast family business asked Motorbike Writer in February to publish a link to a survey about their service and received more than 430 respondents.

Federal funding

Brayden Robinson, who founded the venture with this father, Scott, says the Federal Government is considering some funding for the safety service but needed to know if it would be well received by riders, racers and the motorcycle industry.

“Just over 72% (of survey respondents) said they would be prepared to pay for the scanning service once a year or after every accident and some even said twice a year,” he says.

“We’ve had both really positive and negative feedback from people which is all very helpful.

“AusIndustry commercialisation advisors told us that if we received 100 responses it would be good, 200 would be convincing and 300 would be conclusive.

“Well, we’ve now had more than 430 respondents and the survey is still open.”

You can take part in their quick 10-question online survey by clicking here.

The scanning service has stalled while the Federal Government is in caretaker mode, but Brayden and Scott are confident even a change in government will not affect funding.

Crash starts study

helmet doctors scanning
Brayden is taken away in the ambulance

Scott and Brayden began researching a helmet scanning system after Brayden was hospitalised with a fractured skull from a motocross crash.

They developed their device with the help of a Belgian company and the Composites Research Group in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at The University of Queensland.

“We found this laser scanning technique can categorically guarantee that, if there is any damage to the helmet’s outer shell, our technique will identify it. It’s ground-breaking, proven science,” Scott says.

The Helmet Doctors have a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application that allows them to enter their patent application into any of 152 jurisdictions by 23 June 2020. 

At present the application has been examined by the international PCT body and all but one claim has been found to be novel over identified existing technology.

Need for scanning

Helmet Doctors laser scanning helmets
Helmet scanner

Scott says very few riders know exactly when to replace their helmet.

Manufacturing safety standards say a composite helmet has a lifespan of five years and, if used frequently, about three years.

But what if you drop it or have a crash?

“We have all heard how if you drop your helmet once you should replace it. But very few do this,” Scott says.

“No one knows how much impact a composite helmet can tolerate before the shell is critically weakened.

“Composite materials have many layers and tiny fibres that can be damaged in a fall.

“The impact energy is dispersed among the fibres and away from the brain which it is designed to do.

“This is why a dropped helmet may still look ok.

“However, the impact could have led to a small crack or splintering which you can’t see with the naked eye.

“Our device can view, read and record the helmet 100,000 times better than the naked eye and find if there are any cracks, splintering or deformations which would make the helmet defective and unable to withstand another impact.”

Helmet scanning scheme

Helmet Doctors laser scan helmets scanning
Helmet scan identifies a flaw

The Helmet Doctors plan to test their service first in South East Queensland.

Riders would take their helmet to a participating motorcycle dealer where they would leave it and pick it up a few days later.

The helmet would be sent to the nearest scanner depot where it would be scanned, assessed and returned.

Scott says the Federal Government is considering some funding for the safety service but needs to know if it would be well received by riders, racers and the motorcycle industry.

“As you could imagine this experimental laser camera is very expensive, but our goal is to make this service accessible and cheap enough for everyone to use it,” Scott says.

If the project is successful, they hope to extend the service to other states and overseas.

If you have a few minutes, click here to take this short 10-question survey and help the Helmet Doctors.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rider aged 70 passes away after crash

A 70-year-old Brisbane man has passed away in Royal Brisbane Hospital over night after falling off his motorcycle yesterday afternoon.

Queensland Police Forensic Crash Unit officers say the rider was heading north on Canvey Road, Upper Kedron, about 1.15pm (16 May 2019) when he “lost control of the motorbike”.

He was transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital where he passed away over night.

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

Police say investigations into the incident are continuing and have called for information or dash cam video.

If you have information, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Quote this reference number: QP1900869929

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Does your head crush like a cabbage in a crash?

If you believe your head will crush as easily as a cabbage if you crash, then this video of some helmets being crushed will be of interest.

Crush test

The video from the “Hydraulic Press Channel” on Youtube shows a cabbage in several types of helmet including half and full-face motorcycle helmets, an army helmet and a cycle helmet.

Advance to the 4:20-minute mark and you will find the full-face motorcycle obviously holds up the best to the 150 ton (136 tonne) hydraulic press.

It doesn’t really tell us anything useful about impact resistance, but it’s good to know there is some protection if a 136-tonne truck runs over your head in a crash.

If you want to know the real-world safety rating of helmets, we suggest two sites.

The NSW Consumer Rating and Assessment of Safety Helmets (CRASH) crash-tests 30 helmets a year and releases the details every November.

It is not as comprehensive as the similar British SHARP helmet safety scheme which has tested and rated hundreds of helmets, almost all of which are now available for sale in Australia.

Click here if you want to know if helmet safety is related to the cost of your helmet.

Crash stats

Icon Airframe Statistic motorcycle helmet modular crush
Icon Airframe Statistic motorcycle helmet shows impact areas by percentage

Meanwhile, the Icon Airframe helmet (above) shows the percentage chance of parts of your helmet suffering an impact in a crash.

The crash statistics come from the 1981 Hurt Report and show that the most common area of impact on motorcycle helmets is the chin at 19.4%.

The least vulnerable place is the very top of the head at 0.4%, as shown in the crushing video above for the half helmet, although it is the cabbage that crushes before the helmet!

Both the video and the statistics helmet are good arguments for wearing a full-face over an open-face motorcycle helmet.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle used to inspect road hazards

VicRoads has rejected the use of a special motorcycle to inspect for motorcycle-specific road hazards, preferring to use specially trained inspectors.

Last month Coroner Paresa Spanos found that a bump that caused the death of rider Mark Rodgers and pillion Jodi Walsham may not have been detected by VicRoads because it scans roads in a four-wheeled vehicle, not on a motorcycle.

inspect road hazards
Mark and Jodi

However, the Coroner did not recommend VicRoads inspect roads with a motorcycle as Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has been doing for several years.

Instead, the Coroner accepted a VicRoads plan to train inspectors to be aware of vulnerable riders and promote its hotline to report road hazards.

Motorcycle to inspect roads

Queensland uses a specially equipped motorcycle to scan for specific road hazards such as the 15cm mid-lane bump that caused the double-fatal on the Great Alpine Rd, Ensay, in 2015.

“Road defects identified during regular inspections are recorded, prioritised and fixed under routine maintenance work programs,” a TMR spokesperson says.

TMR uses an instrumented motorcycle for assessments of motorcycle routes and specific safety audits. These assessments are selected based on the history of motorcycle crashes as well as feedback from motorcyclists to identify opportunities to improve the road and roadside infrastructure.

“The motorcycle is equipped with sensors and gyroscopes to measure force, wheel speeds, and suspension movement. GPS is also used to track location, speed and time along the ride, so data sets can be synchronised.

“The motorcycle also includes two cameras (front and rear) and two microphones. Commentary from the rider is used to further determine any unsafe road characteristics.

“The rider is generally experienced and has local knowledge of the road. If weather permits, rides are undertaken in both dry and wet conditions.”

TMR bike inspect road hazards
TMR road inspection motorcycle

Bike for loan

TMR says their instrumented motorcycle is available for use by other governments and road agencies to inspect roads.

It has previously been loaned and used for audits in New South Wales and South Australia.

However, VicRoads has not accepted the offer.

We asked whether they considered their own specialist motorcycle for the job of scanning for road hazards.

They replied:

VicRoads has recently worked with Victoria Police solo riders with instrumented motorcycles to collect data on popular motorcycle routes.  Some of the surveillance officers being trained are motorcycle riders and VicRoads will consider how motorcycles can be used more during safety audits and inspections.  The road hazard training program will focus on hazards for motorcyclists, such as small potholes and bumps, especially at tight bends. The training courses are expected to be completed mid-year.”

Transport for NSW tested TMR’s specialised motorcycle on roads in Northern NSW but has no plans to buy one of their own.

The NSW Centre for Road Safety conducted motorcyclist-specific road safety audits on four popular motorcyclist routes in 2018 — Gwydir Highway, Bruxner Highway, Waterfall Way and Grafton-Ebor Road — to develop a program of future works including 22km of underrun barriers in the next financial year.

Safety audits

Meanwhile, TMR is working with university researchers to better understand how motorcycle safety audits of roads can be improved.

“TMR will consider the findings from the Victorian Coroner in relation to the fatal crash that occurred in March 2015 at Great Alpine Road, Ensay,” the TMR spokesperson says.

He encouraged all road users, including motorcyclists, to report unsafe road conditions.

Report road hazards

Pothole roadworks road hazards inspect
Dangerous road conditions are no laughing matter for riders

You can report hazards on local roads to the relevant local council.

If the hazard is on a state road, report it to the state authorities:

If you believe the hazard is lifer threatening such as a washed-out bridge, you can ring 000.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rider injured in Melbourne hit/run

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Melbourne rider was thrown from his motorbike and injured in a collision with a car that stopped, but then left the scene.

It follows a spate of hit-run crashes involving cars and motorcycles in Melbourne in the past couple of months.

This latest incident occurred in East Malvern on Tuesday (7 May 2019).

“It is believed a motorbike was travelling east on Dandenong Road just before the intersection of Warrigal Road about 6.20pm,” police say.

“Traffic on Dandenong Road was moving slowly and the motorbike rider was making his way toward the Warrigal Road intersection when he was struck by a dark-coloured Ford Mustang.

“The rider was thrown from his bike and it is believed the driver of the Mustang continued driving then stopped a short distance up the road where he got out of his vehicle.

“The man appeared to look at his vehicle and then got back in and drove off north towards Warrigal Road without speaking to the rider.”

The rider, a 24-year-old Clayton man, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with dash-cam footage or who may have any information relating to this collision, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Spate of concern

Concern over motorbike hit-run crashes collision injured
A recent hit-run crash in Melbourne

This spate of hit-run incidents raises the prospect that motorists are viewing riders not as vulnerable road users, but as “temporary Australians” with a death wish.

It could be a direct result of the recent bad press about the high rate of motorcycle fatalities in Victoria, currently at 23.

As far as we know, no one has yet been charged.

In another hit and run in Sydney last month a rider and his pillion were injured and the driver charge.

Molly Cahill hit run crash Sydney committed
The Sydney hit-run crash scene (All images: Channel 7 Sydney)

Molly Cahill, 22, of Sans Souci, has been committed to stand trial on June 18 on two charges of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, failing to stop and render assistance after impact and not keeping left of a dividing line.

Do you believe this spate of hit-run crashes is due to a lack of driver concern for motorcyclists? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

High heeled boot causes fatal rider crash

A high heeled diamanté fashion boot that stuck on the footpeg caused a 29-year-old Polish woman to fatally crash her Yamaha, a British coroner has found.

A Dorset Coroner’s Court heard that Monika Kunda looked down as she struggled with her left foot and lost control of her Yamaha and crashed in Bournemouth in August 2018.

Coroner Brendan Allen said Monika appeared to have been fatally distracted by her boots.

“It is with the utmost importance that bikers wear appropriate clothing, no matter how short the journey and no matter how familiar the person is with it,” he says.

High heeled boots

There are many high-heeled and high-soled motorcycle boots on the market.

Many short riders wear these boots to give them extra length to touch the ground.

There is a wide range of these boots available, some with just a high heel and others with a high sole along the length of the sole.

The boots in this case had a “two-to-three inch chunky heel”, which would make them easy to get caught on the footpegs.

High-heeled boots are more of a fashion accessory. Boots with high soles may not be as easy to get caught in a footpeg.

Certainly, never wear stilettos when riding as these women are.

Short tips

If you are short, you might also consider modifying the suspension, getting a lower seat fitted or swapping to a motorcycle with a lower seat.

Check out our guide to motorcycle seat heights here.

There are also techniques for short riders to cope better.

Click here for our top 10 tips.

Our short riding mate, Brian, not only struggles with a height, but also a dicky knee which he has trouble bending.

But where there’s a will, there’s always a way as this video shows.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Crashed riders miss out on compensation

Riders injured in single-vehicle, no-fault crashes may be failing to make compensation claims for fear of facing negligent riding charges, Motorcycle Council of NSW Chairman Steve Pearce says.

NSW has moved to a no-fault system for CTP compensation which was expected to lead to an increase in compensation claims.

However, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority says payouts and claims are 40% lower than projected.

“We expected a lot more compensation claims to come through, but they haven’t,” Steve says.

“I’m not sure why, but I can guess that riders are opting not to claim.

“For example, if you were in a single-vehicle no-fault crash such as hitting a pothole, you would have to report that incident at a police station and make a report to make a claim.

“The concern is that the report could trigger a negligent driving charge which most riders would want to avoid.

“So they probable limp around and get their bike repaired and avoid having the police involved.

“The insurance companies would love that.”

Compensation

Steve’s comments follow his recent call for riders to pay CTP only once for themselves, not for each motorcycle they own.

Steve Pearce siege highway combined braking ombudsman scrooge poor road repair reduce killer holiday regulations bias compensation
Steve Pearce

Brydens Lawyers Principal Lee Hagipantelis says the Motor Accident Injuries Act introduced by the NSW Liberal Government on 1 December 2017 is “a disgrace”.

He says injured motorists are denied proper compensation for their injuries.

The NSW Labor opposition has promised a review of the motor accident and workers compensation schemes.

Les says he has no doubt that a review would “disclose the inequity in the scheme”.

“When the scheme was introduced the Minister responsible, Mr Victor Dominello, asserted that 55 cents in every dollar of Greenslip premium paid would be returned to injured motorists,” Lee says.

“This is not happening.

“This scheme only serves the interests of the insurance companies in ensuring the continuation of their super profits subsidised by the pain and suffering of the injured motorist.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com