THE tragic death of a motorcyclist on Putty Road was the first fatality on the notorious thoroughfare for 17 months following a range of improvements and law enforcement operations, police and motorcycle groups say.
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Crash experts are investigating whether speed was a factor in the death of the 26-year-old Sydney man at Howes Valley on Monday, after his motorcycle and another machine being ridden by a friend were involved in a collision with a small rigid truck about 1.30pm.
The dead man’s mate, a 25-year-old from Raby, suffered serious injuries and was flown to hospital while the truck driver was not injured.
The two men had ridden ahead of a large group of fellow motorcyclists heading home.
The group came across the horrific crash scene to find their friend dead.
The death was the first on the sometimes controversial Putty Road since two motorcyclists died in separate incidents in August, 2015 – including another fatality at Howes Valley – which prompted a new police operation targeting riders.
The two deaths were not included in another 46 “injury crashes” involving riders on Putty Road in 2015.
Following the start of Operation Silverstone in September 2015, police said there had been no recorded deaths and 26 injury crashes throughout 2016.
“One of things some critics of Operation Silverstone would say is it was unfair to target motorcyclists,’’ Hunter police’s patrol senior supervisor, Senior Sergeant Tony Grace, said.
“But we were not targeting motorcyclists, we were targeting the road and anyone using the road, whether that be a car or a motorcycle.
“It was about targeting motorcycle safety. Unfortunately when motorcyclists are involved in collisions, they are usually injured.’’
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Christopher Burns said that there had been a higher number of motorcycle crashes on the Putty Road because it attracted a higher number of riders.
Mr Burns said a range of improvements, including road surfaces, signage and the introduction of satellite phones along areas with no mobile coverage had also contributed to the lower number of deaths and injuries.
“Some people like to drive and ride vigorously so [roads like] the Putty Road and many others attract sports car and motorcycle enthusiasts,’’ he said.
“We urge motorcycle riders to stick to the speed limit and we also urge them to go out and do some [advanced] road training.
“You do professional development for your career, why not do some professional development for your life.’’
