South Gisborne motorcyclist Rodney Brown is part of a growing chorus of road users urging action on dangerous road conditions.
He has long championed motorcycle road safety, and said it was time road repairs were carried out with motorcycles specifically in mind.
“On a motorcycle you can feel it go through your neck and spine, and cause pain,” he said.
“It’s not only potholes. It’s also ruts in the road that are usually caused by heavy vehicles. They’re like volcanoes. It’s general rough road surfaces and very poor road patches too. On a motorcycle, those are like hitting a speed bump at 100km/h.
“Roads should be engineered for motorcyclists too.”
According to the Transport Accident Commission, motorcycles make up about four per cent of registered vehicles and nine per cent of licence holders in Victoria, yet riders account for about 20 per cent of road deaths and 17 per cent of serious injuries.
Riding for about 60 years, Mr Brown was a formal member of the Motorcycle Riders Association and a strong advocate for motorcycles and road safety.
He was among the thousands that descended on Victoria’s parliament earlier this month to voice safety concerns over the state’s road network, with a focus on potholes.
The rally was organised following the death of Peter Mason after his motorcycle was believed to have hit a pothole on the Western Highway last month.
Rally goers said they were gathered “because of the bloody state of the roads and we’re sick of burying our mates”.
Mr Brown told the Express that potholes and problems with the road added extra stress for motorcyclists who were already on alert for a series of other things that could wrong on the road.
About eight years ago, Mr Brown was seriously injured following an incident at Riddells Creek. He was riding his motorcyle behind a ute when debris from the ute flew out and caused him to come off his motorcycle. He has never fully recovered from the incident.
He wants to see stronger laws around how loads are secured in Victoria.
He said debris, wildlife road encounters, obscured break lights and indicators by items like bicycles, and inattentive drivers can all cause big problems for motorcyclists.
Mr Brown also offered advice to riders.
“I know it’s not a one-way street. Motorcycle riders need to be careful and ride to conditions, check your bike, your tyres, everything and always wear the proper equipment,” he said.
He encouraged riders to consider using a motorcycle helmet sticker that list a rider’s personal and medical details (such as name, family contact, blood type and medical conditions) in case of an emergency.
The stickers, produced by various outlets, typically sit inside the helmet and is one way riders can assist medical personnel quickly if needed.
He also encouraged riders to “not caught up in the group” on a ride, and to ride to the road conditions and their own ability.
REPORTING POTHOLES
Road users can report potholes and poor road surfaces, but it is important to understand which roads are under local and state government care to know where to report it.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has information available on its website including a map to help drivers identify roads, via: mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Roads-Drains-Paths/Roads/Potholes-and-road-repairs
To report urgent issues or hazards on arterial roads, call VicRoads on 13 11 70. Non-urgent road hazards on state-managed roads can be reported via: vicroads.vic.gov.au/traffic-and-road-use/report-a-road-issue