Road Toll - Not a good start to the SA year

[Shillas]

This time last year the South Australian road toll stood at 10 with 2 motorcyclists. This year it's 19 already, with 7 riders.  Last two included one guy on Saturday night who decided to ride the Southern Expressway without a helmet. The last one was yesterday on my route to work. When they gave the location, I knew where it was within a few hundred metres, but riding in this morning and seeing the markings, not sure how he lost it on that particular section, possibly overcompensated.

SAPOL have launched Operation Safe Speed , a high-profile state-wide, traffic campaign began today (just after midnight) and will run for four days in an effort to reduce casualty and fatal crashes.

Police said “Of the 19 deaths on the state’s roads this year, seven have been motorcyclists with preliminary investigations showing that excessive speed has contributed to six of those deaths,” he said.

“Five of the motorcyclists killed have collided with fixed objects.

“The biggest risk factor for motorbike riders is themselves and the choices they make – not other road users.”

The first one was on my daily commute.   I've heard/read a few rumors about this one.  There was one on Checkers Hill Road last week too.

[StinkyPete]

This is certainly a tragic start to the year for the motorcycling community.   The message seems to be to ensure we ride within our capabilities, not pushing the envelope.

[Bodø]

This is certainly a tragic start to the year for the motorcycling community.   The message seems to be to ensure we ride within our capabilities, not pushing the envelope.

Last year was pretty bad, but this year has been even worse.  One of my workmates (rides a pretty big beemer) says a lot of this comes down to them making filtering legal and many riders now think they can do anything.

I do agree with riding to our capabilities.  After last week's Checkers Hill road people were whingeing about the road.  I've redden it a few times and in all sorts of weather (last year's Birdwood and Meningie RTE's attest to that) and I don't think there is anything wrong with the road.  Modern society in general feels a need to blame something instead of thinking about what they could have done different.

[alans1100]

Filtering has been happening in SA for longer than I can remember so I doubt if it would effect the figures that much.

Trouble is that concentrating solely on the number of deaths doesn't take into account the increase in population and the increase in the number of riders/drivers; especially the unskilled misnamed moped class. Nor do they take into account (as far as I know) the actual number of accidents though errors of judgement is a much better term.

SA doesn't seem to promote advanced riding courses and the Radskills on road course itself is fairly basic for advanced and it's the only one I have found in SA and ok if you live northern suburbs.

We actually need something like the UK Bike Safe https://www.roadwise.co.uk/bikers-2/bikesafe/

[STroppy]

This time last year the South Australian road toll stood at 10 with 2 motorcyclists. This year it's 19 already, with 7 riders.

Police said “Of the 19 deaths on the state’s roads this year, seven have been motorcyclists with preliminary investigations showing that excessive speed has contributed to six of those deaths,” he said.

“Five of the motorcyclists killed have collided with fixed objects.

“The biggest risk factor for motorbike riders is themselves and the choices they make – not other road users.”

I doubt if most of the 19 made the choice to have a crash and die. The report infers that while the motorcyclists were considerate and didn’t involve any other vehicles in their deaths, the same cannot be said for the other 12 deaths which seemingly were a result of two vehicles colliding? The motorcyclist are more considerate even in death?

[Brock]

19 Road deaths are achieved in Thailand in about 7 hr and 7 minutes. The country averages 64 dead (mainly bikes ) every day.

 

Another accident involving a motorcycle in Highbury today, but non life threatening injuries.