Motorcyclists endangering their own lives and the lives of other motorists while reportedly recording themselves traveling at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour have been recorded on shocking GoPro video.
Last month, three motorcyclists were charged in connection with an alleged joyride down a winding route in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, which was reportedly videotaped and posted on social media.
Police believe that the joyride started in Peachester, when a 45-year-old man mounted a GoPro camera to his Yamaha motorcycle in order to record his excursion with two friends.
The clip shows the guy exceeding 140 km/h while passing other cars and, at one point, reaching 200 km/h as he starts the ascent into the hinterland.
At 105 km/h, the cyclist barely avoids striking a large pothole as a vehicle carrying a caravan goes in the other way.
Several other cars, including a huge truck, were also on the road at the time, which winds through several areas.
According to authorities, the guy is recorded rushing through Bellthorpe and over the double lines of a tiny route more than 22 times.
Later, the image was shared on social media and became viral, catching the attention of the Sunshine Coast traffic patrol unit.
On July 28, police went to an apartment in Parrearra and confiscated a GoPro apparently belonging to a 45-year-old male.
On Monday, he will appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on a charge of hazardous vehicle operation (August 22).
A 49-year-old Mooloolaba man was handed two traffic infringement notices for speeding, resulting in a $1,653 fine and the loss of eight demerits due to ongoing investigations.
In addition, he was charged with a third traffic violation and fined an extra $460 for improperly attaching the license plates.
A 46-year-old man from Birtinya was also charged with reckless operation of a vehicle and will appear at the same time as his companion rider in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court.
Given the significant number of motorcyclists who have lost their lives on Queensland roads this year, police deemed the alleged acts of the riders to be disheartening.
Highway patrol Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said, “The Sunshine Coast Hinterland is a popular destination for riders, but what many fail to realize is that the curving roads can be exceedingly hazardous, particularly when traveling at high speeds.”
Riding at an excessive pace and over double lines when you cannot see incoming traffic clearly is dangerous and endangers the lives of other road users.
The Queensland Police Department uploaded the GoPro clip online on Tuesday, and it received almost 50,000 views inside a few hours.
“Glad they were prosecuted; they set a poor example for other motorcyclists.” Certainly a misfortune is in store for these individuals. Then their families are left with pain,’ said one lady.
A driving school said, “Those who justify this as innocent fun on rural roads must inform the rest of us about which rules apply and to whom.” Which laws do they believe motorists may disregard, and who gives them the authority to do so?
Many others demanded that the cyclists’ bicycles be seized.
They endanger other road users. One motorist said that bikes should be seized and sold to benefit accident victims, and riders should be required to visit a hospital and see accident victims.
One joked, “Can we watch as their bicycles get crushed?”