Tasmania Police and the Tasmania Motorcycle Council are concerned about the recent serious and fatal motorcycle crashes in the state in February. 

It is particularly concerning that this month there have been four single vehicle motorcycle crashes, which have resulted in the death of two riders and two riders being critically injured.

Whilst investigations are still continuing, it is alleged that in three of the crashes the motorcycle involved was unregistered and uninsured.  It is also alleged that in two of the crashes the rider was disqualified, one rider was unlicensed in the other crash the rider was riding outside the conditions of his licence.

Police have reminded motorcycle riders that they place themselves at significant risk if they are unlicensed or their motorcycle is not registered.  In addition, the rider is not covered by third party insurance.

The vast majority of riders comply with traffic regulations, however it is alarming that in these instances such significant breaches of law have occurred.

“We are extremely concerned about this behaviour displayed by a minority of motorcyclists and want to stress that an error of judgment could very easily turn to tragedy as it has in these cases,” said State Traffic Coordinator Inspector Mark Beech-Jones.

“We know motorcyclists are highly vulnerable to sustaining injuries on the road, making it extremely important for their own safety to obey the road rules.”

“We share the concern of Tasmania Police about the four instances that have occurred in the past month, and this is a concern for motorcyclists in Tasmania and right around Australia,” said the President of the Tasmania Motorcycle Council, Shaun Lennard.

“In Tasmania there are about 14,500 motorcycles and most days most of those people when they’re riding, do the right thing.  So for people who are unlicensed or riding unregistered motorcycles they’re not good news for those people doing the right thing, so we don’t want those people on the road either,” said Mr Lennard.

Police are focussing on the licence status of riders and registrations of motorcycles, including the use of ANPR technology.

In 2011 two motorcyclists have been killed on Tasmanian roads and for the 2010 period 4 motor cycle riders lost their lives.

Tasmania Police Media
(03) 6230 2296