RACQ CQ Rescue releases motor vehicle accident stats
According to new figures from RACQ CQ Rescue in Australia, from January to April of this year, 15 patients were seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents.
According to new figures from RACQ CQ Rescue in Australia, from January to April of this year, 15 patients were seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents, including five motorcyclists and four quad bike riders.
The Mackay, Australia-based rescue helicopter rescued all of these patients, transferring them to hospitals in Mackay and Townsville. Queensland figures from 2017 showed that men over 40 accounted for three-quarters of all motorbike deaths.
RACQ CQ Rescue Pilot and Base Manager Owen Maitland said that motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users. “Whether it’s a multi-vehicle accident or a crash into an object such as a tree or guard rail, riders are always going to come off second best,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen it a lot already this year and the severity of injuries faced by motorbike riders is always much, much higher than other road users.”
RACQ Head of Technical and Safety Policy Steve Spalding said that motorcyclists need to be aware of the road conditions and potential hazards around them, and that drivers must also be cautious: “This means motorcyclists need to think about how they can best protect themselves on the road. This includes wearing quality safety gear, making sure they’re visible to all road users and riding to the conditions,” he said. “Drivers also need to play their part in keeping motorcyclists safe. It’s about giving space to motorcyclists, checking your blind spots, particularly when changing lanes. A moment of inattention or carelessness can have deadly consequences for motorbike riders.”