This Motorcycle Awareness Month, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) is urging all road users to take extra care, stay alert and share the road safely – to help ensure everyone, including vulnerable road users, make it to their destination.
Motorcyclists are among Queensland’s most vulnerable road users. From 1 January to 1 October 2026, 63 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Queensland roads – 15 more than the same time last year.
Unlike occupants of vehicles, motorcyclists have no steel frame, airbags or seatbelts to protect them in a crash, making them significantly more likely to suffer serious injuries or lose their lives.
Acting Superintendent Gareth Bosley from Road Policing Group said Motorcycle Awareness Month is an important reminder that rider safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“As an avid motorcycle rider myself, I understand just how enjoyable and freeing riding can be, as it’s a great way to unwind, travel and enjoy Queensland’s incredible roads,” Acting Superintendent Bosley said.
“The vast majority of riders do the right thing, but unfortunately we still see some people taking unnecessary risks on motorcycles.
“It’s always tragic attending a serious motorcycle crash, because we know behind every rider is a family, a partner or a friend waiting for them to come home.
“Unlike other motorists, riders have little between themselves and the road in a crash, which is why every decision made before and during a ride can be the difference between making it home or not.”
In Queensland, motorcycles account for around one in every 20 registered vehicles on the road, while motorcyclists are significantly overrepresented in lives lost, accounting for almost one in every four.
These figures highlight how vulnerable motorcycle riders are and why rider safety remains an important focus.
This October, the QPS with support from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has launched a ‘Ride with Me’ video series, aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities and increasing education for a safer ride.
Sharing practical safety advice, the nine-video ‘Ride with Me’ series showcases popular routes across Southeast Queensland, including Mount Mee, Mount Nebo and Mount Tamborine, highlighting crash hotspots, common hazards and simple actions riders can take to stay safe.
Acting Superintendent Bosley said the Ride with Me series was developed to help riders stay safe while enjoying some of the state’s most popular riding routes.
“Queensland is home to some of the best motorcycle roads in the country, and we want riders to enjoy every kilometre and make it home safely at the end of every ride,” he said.
“The videos feature police officers riding popular routes and sharing practical safety advice, giving riders a firsthand look at common hazards, high-risk sections of road and simple techniques that can help keep them safe.”
“Whether you’ve been riding for 15 years or 15 weeks, the fundamentals of safety never change and they save lives.
“The series reinforces key riding principles, including riding to the conditions and your skill level, managing your speed, staying visible, and never riding impaired or fatigued.
“You can’t control what’s around the next bend, but you can control how prepared you are for it.
“We want riders to think beyond the journey itself. Make safe choices every time you get on your motorcycle, so you can make it home to the people who are waiting for you.”
The full Ride with Me series is available on the Queensland Police Service YouTube channel and includes:
- Series Introduction
- Mount Nebo
- Mount Nebo to Mount Glorious
- Mount Glorious to Mount Dundas
- Mount Glorious to Samford
- Mount Mee
- Mount Tamborine
- Group rides
- High-risk riders
The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads. However, enforcement alone cannot stop all dangerous driving behaviours.
Every choice you make behind the wheel, matters. Driving under the influence, speeding, driving distracted or while fatigued, or not wearing a seatbelt puts your life – and the lives of others – at serious risk. These dangerous behaviours will not be tolerated.
Queenslanders can expect police – anywhere, anytime.
Road safety starts with you.
