This young woman's horrendous experience leads to warning for Aussies on the road

Everyone is meant to explore the Land Down Under.

However, adventurous souls also need to look out for each other, especially on the road.


In a sobering call to action, Australian drivers were reminded of the critical importance of responsible driving, especially around motorcyclists.

The urgency of this message has been underscored by a woman's harrowing tale and a community's outcry against road rage.

The streets of Adelaide recently witnessed a poignant display of unity and protest as nearly eighty motorcyclists revved their engines in the Ride Against Road Rage event.


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Motorcyclists in Adelaide came together to advocate for safer roads. Image Credit: Pexels/Mansoor A


Ride Against Road Rage, however, was more than just a show of solidarity.

The motorcade was a direct response to the aggressive driving that has become all too common on our roads.

Road rage has seen devastating consequences towards motorists and pedestrians, as highlighted by a young rider.


Rachel Secker, a young woman with a passion for motorcycles, joined the Ride Against Road Rage, but with the shadows of her past trailing her.

Two years ago, Rachel was a victim of an alleged road rage incident that left her with catastrophic injuries.

A driver targeted her motorbike, which led to an accident that shattered her right leg.

Rachel had an arduous journey to recovery, as doctors had to reconstruct her leg with over 20 surgeries.

'Even though I love riding, it puts a bit of a dampener on it for me,' Rachel shared in an interview.

'Every time I get on the bike, it's like, "Is this going to be the last ride?"'

Rachel's ordeal was a stark reminder of the vulnerability motorcyclists face when they hit the road.


The Ride Against Road Rage event brought together riders who shared their own experiences of aggression from car drivers.

Motorcyclists encounter several incidents ranging from tailgating to drivers changing lanes without looking and even attempts to block motorcyclists despite legal lane filtering.

Bronwyn Ridge, the organiser behind Ride Against Road Rage, shared that aggressive driving has been 'an ongoing theme within the motorcycle community'.

'We had a rider yesterday on the ride when a car came through a giveaway sign without stopping, right in front of a rider fresh off her Ls,' Ridge shared.

Ride Against Road Rage wanted to address a systemic issue that has contributed to disturbing statistics across the country.


Motorcycle deaths have reached a 35-year high in Australia.

Last year, motorcyclist fatalities rose by 10.3 per cent—from 252 in 2023 to 278 in 2024.

This increase in fatalities marked the deadliest year for riders since 1989.

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), fatalities last year totalled 1,300 people.

Ride Against Road Rage's advocacy and Rachel's story were a reminder that road safety is not just about following rules; it's about respect and understanding.

Seniors with decades of driving experience could lead by example by demonstrating patience and consideration on the road.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorcyclists advocated for greater respect on the roads following traumatic injuries sustained by a young woman.
  • Rachel Secker suffered severe injuries after being knocked off her motorcycle in a road rage incident.
  • The Ride Against Road Rage event in Adelaide was organised to draw attention to the dangers faced by motorcyclists from aggressive drivers.
  • Motorcycle fatalities have reached a 35-year high in Australia, with an increase in deaths noted from 2023 to 2024.
Have you witnessed or experienced road rage? How can we foster a safer environment for all road users? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments section below!
 

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Yep some drivers treat motorbikes like cyclists, just pass them in the same lane and refuse to overtake properly, or get really pissed because bikes go in-between the traffic and get ahead of them, so they chase them down such DH's.
Unfortunately the way some of these idiots on crotch rockets ride, wheel standing through traffic and lane splitting/cutting traffic at high speeds it doesn't surprise me that people have no respect for bikes. I am a rider myself but it is no reason to rage against the genuine riders.
 
Unfortunately the way some of these idiots on crotch rockets ride, wheel standing through traffic and lane splitting/cutting traffic at high speeds it doesn't surprise me that people have no respect for bikes. I am a rider myself but it is no reason to rage against the genuine riders.
I love what you call bikes... when I was nursing we called them "mobile death traps" and got sick of wheeling bodies to the morgue but what amazed me was how many survivors used to say "but I had the best leathers on. My reply was always "it didn't do the cow any good did it?" If only people would respect each other it would be safer for all and the death toll would drop.
 
everything they said about "Ride Against Road Rage" event should apply to them as well, the number of times I've had bikers pull those acts against other vehilce drivers - tit for tat. I have heard nurses call them - mobile donor machines.
 
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When driving I often see Bike riders with singlets and shorts riding at excessive speeds on our roads and just shudder.....I just wish more would ride with leathers on....personal choice I understand, but the realisation of the damage to their bodies should they be in an accident where skin meets road is just frightening.:unsure::eek:
 
Having ridden high powered motorcycles for over 40 years, I have seen countless acts of stupidity from both sides. Mainly from car, and to lesser extent, truck drivers.

My most "memorable" incident was in 1984 when I was riding through Narwee shopping centre on the way to work. A clown in a red Toyota Corolla executed an illegal U-turn at a set of pedestrian lights, causing me to try and squeeze between the gutter and the car without success.

I threw my Kawasaki GPZ750 R1 into the car as I jumped off and slid down the footpath. The car stopped and swapped details without police involvement. It turned out his licence was a fake paper one with an address in Concord with a street that didn't exist! Well before photo licences.

Off to the cops with the numberplate details. A lovely girl behind the counter gave me address, which is against procedures, which was in Carrisbrook Avenue in Greenacre.

In the company of a mate (a Rebels member), we gave this address a little visit, much to the horror of the offending driver. We extracted $440 out of him before laying down OUR law.

I repaired the Kawasaki myself for the princely sum of about $90!
 
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Having ridden high powered motorcycles for over 40 years, I have seen countless acts of stupidity from both sides. Mainly from car, and to lesser extent, truck drivers.

My most "memorable" incident was in 1984 when I was riding through Narwee shopping centre on the way to work. A clown in a red Toyota Corolla executed an illegal U-turn at a set of pedestrian lights, causing me to try and squeeze between the gutter and the car without success.

I threw my Kawasaki GPZ750 R1 into the car as I jumped off and slid down the footpath. The car stopped and swapped details without police involvement. It turned out his licence was a fake paper one with an address in Concord with a street that didn't exist! Well before photo licences.

Off to the cops with the numberplate details. A lovely girl behind the counter gave me address, which is against procedures, which was in Carrisbrook Avenue in Greenacre.

In the company of a mate (a Rebels member), we gave this address a little visit, much to the horror of the offending driver. We extracted $440 out of him before laying down OUR law.

I repaired the Kawasaki myself for the princely sum of about $90!
Justice comes in all shapes and sizes....well done. :unsure: (y)
 
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Some, only some but even then more than less, motorcycle riders do some silly manoeuvres on the road, squeezing between two lanes of cars waiting at traffic lights, go between then over the front stop line and roar off when the lights change. It IS illegal to have two vehicles side by side at any time in the same lane, which is what happens more often than not, as they squeeze between cars.
 
Having ridden high powered motorcycles for over 40 years, I have seen countless acts of stupidity from both sides. Mainly from car, and to lesser extent, truck drivers.

My most "memorable" incident was in 1984 when I was riding through Narwee shopping centre on the way to work. A clown in a red Toyota Corolla executed an illegal U-turn at a set of pedestrian lights, causing me to try and squeeze between the gutter and the car without success.

I threw my Kawasaki GPZ750 R1 into the car as I jumped off and slid down the footpath. The car stopped and swapped details without police involvement. It turned out his licence was a fake paper one with an address in Concord with a street that didn't exist! Well before photo licences.

Off to the cops with the numberplate details. A lovely girl behind the counter gave me address, which is against procedures, which was in Carrisbrook Avenue in Greenacre.

In the company of a mate (a Rebels member), we gave this address a little visit, much to the horror of the offending driver. We extracted $440 out of him before laying down OUR law.

I repaired the Kawasaki myself for the princely sum of about $90!
Wish we had known you back when my husband had to lay his bike down Kawasaki 750 when some dickhead ran a red light and almost wiped out hubby, you could have visited this fool as well.
 
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In W.A. drivers must pass a cyclist with @ least 1 metre clearance. On a dual lane road this means using the 2nd lane & applies to motorcycles too of course.

Motorcycles have a right to a lane on their own. Apparently riding between cars on a motorcycle is legal here. HOW CAN THEY HAVE IT BOTH WAYS? (a single lane but allowed to ride between vehicles with less than 30 -40 cm clearance either side).
 
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In W.A. drivers must pass a cyclist with @ least 1 metre clearance. On a dual lane road this means using the 2nd lane & applies to motorcycles too of course.

Motorcycles have a right to a lane on their own. Apparently riding between cars on a motorcycle is legal here. HOW CAN THEY HAVE IT BOTH WAYS? (a single lane but allowed to ride between vehicles with less than 30 -40 cm clearance either side).
I don't really think they have it both ways, they just go between the traffic when it is stopped at traffic lights to get to the front and get out of the way of cars. I've been a pillion for many years.
 
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I don't really think they have it both ways, they just go between the traffic when it is stopped at traffic lights to get to the front and get out of the way of cars. I've been a pillion for many years.
Perhaps but comments on a RAC survey show going between vehicles is legal but l believe should be outlawed for safety reasons.

(I suppose a nasty person, driver or passenger, could open a door just as the rider reached that point. TALK ABOUT ROAD RAGE!)
 
Perhaps but comments on a RAC survey show going between vehicles is legal but l believe should be outlawed for safety reasons.

(I suppose a nasty person, driver or passenger, could open a door just as the rider reached that point. TALK ABOUT ROAD RAGE!)
I didn't realise at the time, but a motorcyclist actually had his hand on my car (balancing I suppose) I took off and he nearlly fell over, when he caught up with me at the next set of lights he blamed me for the incident - I pointed out he chose to lean on my car - his choice, his consequences.
 
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In many instances I've encountered with motor cyclists, while driving at the required speed limit, you get overtaken on the double yellow lines where they go clearly over them. In many circumstances the limits of 50, 60, 80, 100 &110 k's just aren't fast enough for them.
 
In W.A. drivers must pass a cyclist with @ least 1 metre clearance. On a dual lane road this means using the 2nd lane & applies to motorcycles too of course.

Motorcycles have a right to a lane on their own. Apparently riding between cars on a motorcycle is legal here. HOW CAN THEY HAVE IT BOTH WAYS? (a single lane but allowed to ride between vehicles with less than 30 -40 cm clearance either side).
As you know, they do it all the time.
 

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