MOTORCYCLE SAFETY GEARS UP Victoria Police’s Solo Unit has taken on a new direction to reduce motorcycle fatalities after a horror start to the year. At the moment, Victoria is losing someone on its roads every 36 hours. Even more alarming, the number of motorcyclists killed on our roads so far this year has already reached the number killed for the whole of 2015. Road Policing Command’s Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer, a rider himself, is horrified with the statistics. “This is heartbreaking and unacceptable, considering motorcycles only make up four per cent of registered vehicles in this state, but at the moment represent more than 34 per cent of people who have died on our roads,” he said. “You would have heard me talking before about the lives lost on our roads and how they are someone’s friend, son, daughter, mother or father.
8
POLICE LIFE | WINTER 2016
“These people are all loved and now they are gone.” Of the motorcycle fatalities so far this year, all have been men aged between 18 and 72. Many of the victims had been riding unregistered bikes or were unlicensed riders, three were on stolen bikes and others had made minor mistakes and over-corrected, paying for it with their lives. AC Fryer is pleading with the riding community to keep safety at the forefront of their minds. “I’m urging motorcyclists to ride safely and within their limits and skill set. Slow down, ride to conditions and within the speed limits,” he said. “Riding motorcycles places us in a vulnerable position, so be sure to always wear protective gear. Only ride registered bikes, do not get on a bike after drinking or whilst fatigued and overtake safely.”