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Motorcycle road toll slowly creeps up!

May 15 by Michael King in News & Views, Serious Stuff

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32 motorcyclists, including one pillion, have lost their lives in Queensland so far this year (as at 15 May 2009).  Of these, 12 are in the age group 16 to 29 years and 10 fatalities are in the 40 to 49 year age group.  Last year the predominant age group for motorcycle deaths was 30 to 39 years.  The propensity for more mature motorcyclists to die in crashes is difficult to explain because almost all of them were at fault in multi vehicle crashes.  Those killed in single vehicle crashes usually lost control of their machine for one reason or another and crashed into roadside objects.

The Gold Coast Hinterland has so far had two deaths with Northern Queensland, Central Queensland and Brisbane area accounting for 6 deaths each.

Fatal motorcycle crashes in Queensland - 2009

(Crashes have been grouped into regional locations for reference purposes)

1. Douglas (NORTHERN) (Includes pillion deceased) Lost control on bend - collided with Armco railing
2. Irvinebank (NORTHERN) - swept off flooded causeway
3. Smithfield (NORTHERN) - Lost control on bend and collided with Armco railing
4. Smithfield (NORTHERN) - Lost control on bend and collided with oncoming vehicle
5. Red Cliff Point (NORTHERN) - Lost control on bend and collided with oncoming vehicle
6. Ingham (NORTHERN) - Collided with turning vehicle then hit by oncoming car
7. Mount Isa (NORTHERN) - Lost control on bend and collided with power pole
8. Stanwell (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) - Collided with turning vehicle
9. Willows (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) - Lost control on bend at crest of hill and fell off
10. Woodgate (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) - Lost control on bend and collided with stand of trees
11. Bruce Highway (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) - Collided with rear of turning heavy vehicle
12. Gympie (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) - Collided with vehicle turning across path
13. Little Mountain (SEQ NORTH - SUNSHINE COAST) - Lost control and collided with light pole
14. Buddina (SEQ NORTH - SUNSHINE COAST) - Collided with turning vehicle at traffic lights
15. Palmwoods (SEQ NORTH - SUNSHINE COAST) - Lost control on bend and hill crest then collided with culvert
16. Beachmere (SEQ NORTH - SUNSHINE COAST) - Collided with turning vehicle at intersection
17. Mt Nebo (SEQ NORTH - BRISBANE WEST) - Collided with oncoming vehicle after crossing centre line on bend
18. Kedron (SEQ NORTH - BRISBANE) - Collided with rear of vehicle while splitting lanes
19. Ferny Hills (SEQ NORTH - BRISBANE) - Lost control and hit gutter
20. Wyreema (SOUTHERN REGION - VIA TOOWOOMBA) - Collided with vehicle completing U turn
21. Greenmount (SOUTHERN REGION - VIA TOOWOOMBA) - Collided with rear of stationary vehicle
22. Oakey (SOUTHERN REGION - VIA TOOWOOMBA) - Fell off and hit kerb
23. Helidon (SEQ SOUTH - VIA GATTON) - Collided with turning vehicle whilst overtaking
24. Collingwood Park (SEQ SOUTH - VIA IPSWICH) - Collided with turning bus
25. Mt Gravatt (SEQ SOUTH - BRISBANE) - Lost control on bend and collided with fence
26. Coopers Plains (SEQ SOUTH - BRISBANE) - Lost control on bend and hit culvert
27. Rocklea (SEQ SOUTH - BRISBANE) - Collided with rear of truck during lane change
28. Canungra (SEQ SOUTH - GOLD COAST HINTERLAND) - Lost control on bend and collided with Armco railing
29. Beechmont (SEQ SOUTH - GOLD COAST HINTERLAND) - Lost control on bend and pothole and collided with oncoming truck
30. Park Ridge South (SEQ SOUTH - LOGAN) - Collided with turning vehicle
31. North McLean (SEQ SOUTH - LOGAN) - Lost control on bend and collided with tree

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4 Comments »

1.  

   

   Thanks Mike.

   These figures seem to support the media campaigns of 1 in 4 deaths in Qld involve a motorcyclist. Many are single vehicle. The one fact that is pleasing (if you could use that word)is that the Gold Coast area had 27 deaths in 2007 (that’s not the pleasing bit) but only 3 so far in 2009. That is a big decrease. I hope that the trends reverse across the rest of the state.

   Comment by Curley — Jun 3 @ 11:14 am

    

2.  

   

   Am very interested to know why so many motorcyclists “lose control” of their bikes. Is there one factor that outweighs every other one or is it just a combination of several.

   Comment by chrissie — Aug 3 @ 3:02 pm

    

3.  

   

   In answer to Chrissie’s question as to why so many motorcyclists “lose control” of their bikes.
   Probably the main reason for the loss of control in many fatal crashes is because motorcyclists often misjudge the severity of a corner or bend in the road ahead. As a result the approach speed is too great and centrifugal forces acting on the machine drag it away from the centre of the road towards the edge. It is here that loose gravel and other material cause the tyres to lose traction with the road surface and the bike continues to slide further off the road. The resultant collision with roadside objects such as trees, rocks or even signs, cause substantial injuries. The faster the slide off the road the greater the injuries sustained. The same type of crash results in many cars becoming wrapped around roadside trees and lamp poles as well.
   Centrifugal forces can be explained as a weight on the end of a piece of string which is twirled around your head. When you let go of the string the weight flies off at high speed. The faster you twirl the string the further the weight will travel when let go.
   The obvious preventative measures in avoiding this type of crash are a good appreciation of the road surface, tyre traction and, most importantly, speed through the corner. Once the bike commences a slide there is almost nothing the rider can do about sustaining serious injuries. You can see this type of crash on the race track in almost any racing event - that’s why they put huge sand pits on the corners to slow riders and bikes down before they come to a safe stop. Normal roads don’t have sand pits.

   Comment by Michael King — Aug 4 @ 3:35 pm

    

4.  

   

   Hi Chrissie, There are a lot of people working on this one and their job is made very difficult by all the different factors.

   The obvious factor for many crashes though, is with the rider’s right wrist and its connection with the rider’s brain. Not the bikes horsepower, not the bikes potential top speed.

   Some are just accidents, some are a momentary lapse in concentration or a distraction at the wrong time by the rider or other driver, and some are a “brain fade” moment by rider or driver.

   Plus, some riders and drivers should not be on the road.

   What’s going on in the riders head, how the bike is set up and maintained (tyre type, condition, pressure and many more factors), road condition and design, weather and other road users etc. etc. It’s not an easy fix

   Motorcyclists must be aware of and accept their level of ability, be aware of their surrounds, be aware of others, not be influenced by others, attend appropriate training and refresh their training, be educated and educate themselves about proper bike set up, wear the right gear, stay switched on, ride safely and arrive home.

   The words I remember most vividly (and appreciated most) as an 18yo learning to ride a bike with a group of more experienced riders, were “we don’t care when you get there just get there, we’ll wait.”

   Comment by eyesup — Aug 4 @ 10:57 pm

    

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