MOTORCYCLISTS have been put on notice as local police look to crackdown on two-wheel vehicles throughout an uptick of visitation in the year’s warmer months.
Operation Solo Safe has been ongoing in the North East this month which has seen police highly visible on North East roads popular with motorcyclists.
Sergeant Shaun Hillier of Wangaratta Highway Patrol said collisions involving motorcycles are over represented in road trauma.
“As motorcyclists converge on our beautiful region to explore what the North East can offer between January and March we generally see an increase in road trauma involving motorcycles,” he said.
“Whether you’re in a vehicle or on a motorcycle, police will not tolerate any motorists that chooses to endanger themselves or any other road users.
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“Plan your trip, allow sufficient time to get to your destination and ride responsibly.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility whether you ride a motorcycle or drive a car.”
Sgt Hillier said road trauma involving motorcycles typically occurs on high speed roads and police saw a significant increase in lives lost involving motorcycles over the past two years statewide.
The North East has already been victim of a motorcycle fatality at Bethanga on January 19.
While no fatal motorcycle incidents were recording within Wangaratta in 2024, the rural city’s only fatal motorcycle crash in 2023 occurred in March, when a male rider crashed into a tree on Old Coach Road near Byawatha.
The operation comes as police issued an urgent warning to motorists following a horror start to the year on the state’s regional roads.
There have been 41 lives lost in the first 43 days of the year – an increase on 31 lives lost recorded at the same time last year.
January recorded 36 fatalities, which is the highest number of lives lost for the month since 2001 when there were 44 fatalities during January.
Of the 41 lives lost to date, 24 have occurred on regional roads – almost double the 13 recorded at the same time last year.
In the North East, six lives have been tragically lost in incidents in Bowmans Forest, Glenrowan, Bundalong, Creightons Creek, Bethanga and Avenel.
Road policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir said police were appalled at the terrible loss of life throughout January.
“Early indications suggest driver behaviour and driver error is largely contributing to these fatalities,” he said.
“Last year we saw a significant rise in road trauma involving motorcyclists, and worryingly that trend has continued into this year.
“All road users need to realise this is a problem that requires immediate attention, due care and commitment – it’s up to all of us to be more alert and prioritise safety when getting behind the wheel.”
Provisional analysis of this year’s fatalities suggests that driver behaviour and driving errors, including excessive or inappropriate speed, unsafe overtaking, illegal u-turns, failing to stop or give way, fatigue and distraction have been major contributing factors in these fatal collisions.
Police intelligence shows road conditions are not contributing to the significant rise in road trauma this year.
A statewide road policing operation will be launched early in March to coincide with the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
