SPECIAL attention is being paid to motorcycle safety after an horrific start to the year.
There have been 22 motorcycle riders killed in Queensland in less than three months.
The alarming number of rider fatalities is more than double the average rate and the highest it has been at this time of year in more than five years.
Queensland’s overall lives lost toll is currently 66 which is 22 more than at the same time last year.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said the rising rate of motorcycle fatalities was shocking and had prompted police to issue an urgent safety alert to all riders.
“As an avid motorcyclist myself, I know how vulnerable we are as road users and I have seen firsthand how devastating the consequences can be when crashes occur,” he said.
Police assessments said 70% of deaths were the fault of riders.
“Rider safety is everyone’s responsibility, but it starts with you as a rider,” he said.
“Your behaviour on the road has direct consequences on your life and those around you.
“With a significant increase in motorcycle registrations in the past 12 months, there are a lot of inexperienced riders on our roads but we have also seen extremely dangerous behaviour across all rider types.”
