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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Queensland on track for another record year of motorcycle crashes

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Queensland, Australia, is on track for another record year of fatal motorcycle crashes, continuing a five-year trend of the highest fatalities in the country.
  • Police attribute the rise to increased motorcycle ownership post-COVID, non-compliant electric motorcycles, and dangerous riding behaviors, including social media stunts.
  • Fatalities have significantly increased since 2020, with 2023 being the worst year for Queensland motorcyclists since 1986.

Queensland, Australia, is facing a grim milestone as it appears set for another record year of fatal motorcycle accidents, police have warned. The state has already recorded the highest number of motorcycle deaths nationally for five consecutive years, and the current trend suggests 2026 will continue this alarming pattern.

That's five more than the same time last year, so we're heading for another increase again.

— Inspector Gareth BosleyHighlighting the increase in fatalities compared to the previous year.

Last year, 75 motorcycle riders or passengers lost their lives on Queensland roads, marking an escalation in fatalities that has been ongoing since 2020. As of this year, 37 riders or passengers have died, which is five more than at the same point last year. Inspector Gareth Bosley from the Specialist Operations Road Policing Group highlighted that this includes accidents involving non-compliant electric motorcycles.

Inspector Bosley identified several contributing factors to the surge in fatal crashes. These include a rise in motorcycle ownership following the COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of non-compliant electric motorcycles, and an increase in dangerous riding behaviors, often referred to as 'hooning.' He noted the concerning trend of riders engaging in high-speed maneuvers and dangerous stunts, sometimes with accompanying film crews, for social media notoriety.

We've seen offenders travelling at very high speeds, performing very dangerous manoeuvres with film crews travelling beside them in vehicles filming their exploits and then posting online for notoriety.

— Inspector Gareth BosleyDescribing dangerous riding behaviors often captured for social media.

Nationally, the rate of motorcycle deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles has risen by approximately 33 percent between 2020 and 2024. In Queensland, fatal accidents reached their lowest point in 2014 with 37 deaths. However, by 2023, the number had more than doubled to 79, with the rate per 100,000 motorcycles also steadily increasing. The year 2023 was particularly devastating, marking the worst year for Queensland motorcyclists in terms of raw fatalities since 1986.

If people want to engage in these activities, that's what racetracks are for.

— Inspector Gareth BosleySuggesting appropriate venues for high-risk riding activities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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