WITH Western Australia's motorbike death toll now at its equal worst in history, Bunbury's traffic police have made no apologies for pulling over every bike they see on the road.
At a meeting held to discuss motorbike safety earlier this month, South West Traffic officer-in-charge Sergeant Craig Clarke told the Bunbury Mail he had instructed his team to target every motorbike on local roads.
Sergeant Clarke said it was alarming to discover that many of the riders did not have a licence to operate their bike.
This includes a 41-year-old man who was killed near the entrance of College Grove on November 3.
Our state motorbike road toll is now at 36 - equal to the worst year on record in 2008.
A group of passionate business owners, riding instructors and police met on November 6 to pull together resources and work towards change that could save lives.
The group wants to see changes to state legislation which would mean bikers would have to be re-tested on a regular basis, as well as a local training facility where people can learn how to stay alive on the roads.
Several members of the group have been hit by personal tragedy involving motorbikes, spurring on their determination to curb the horrific road toll.
The Bunbury advocates want to host an advanced motorcycle training program in conjunction with the long-standing Youth Driver Development Program.
Plans are also in place to table legislation at a Bunbury RoadWise committee meeting, pushing for mandatory testing of riders every seven years.
“The training program could change the outcome for a small few, but to make sweeping changes across the board you need to change legislation,” Sergeant Clarke said.
The group will meet again this month to map out the local training program.
Can you help? If you are interested in Bunbury’s drive for change, email brianh@papalia.com.au
Have your say on this topic. Email shanelle.miller@fairfaxmedia.com.au
