Road users are being urged to stay vigilant and show respect for motorcyclists amid growing concerns about aggressive driving.
On Sunday Feb 9th, nearly 80 motorcyclists participated in the ‘Ride Against Road Rage’ event in Adelaide, rallying in support of Rachel Secker, a young rider who sustained severe injuries in an alleged road rage attack two years ago.
Secker, now 23, returned to her motorcycle for the event but admitted the traumatic incident still haunts her every time she rides. After a driver allegedly rammed into her motorbike, she suffered devastating injuries that required her right leg to be completely rebuilt.
“Even though I love riding, it’s put a bit of a dampener on it for me,” she told 7 News. “Every time I get on the bike, I wonder… is this going to be my last ride?”
She endured at least 20 surgeries to reconstruct her leg and will face the driver responsible in court when she delivers her victim impact statement.
Many of the riders who joined the event voiced similar concerns, saying road rage from drivers is a daily occurrence for motorcyclists. Event organisers stressed that such behaviour must be publicly condemned to improve road safety.
Bronwyn Ridge, a motorcyclist and event organiser, says road users need to be aware of how vulnerable motorcyclists can be in traffic.
“We ask motorists to be motorcycle aware, to not be distracted and to check their blind spots twice. Accidents happen every day, but there is no excuse for a motorist who intentionally uses their car as a weapon against another human being.”
Ridge said motorcyclists who are the subject of road rage should try to get the offender’s number plate and report them to police. “Try to remove yourself from the situation as safely as possible and do not confront the attacker. Dashcam and/or helmet cam evidence may be useful.”
The protest comes amid grim road safety statistics. Motorcycle deaths reached a 35-year high in 2024, with 278 fatalities, marking a 10.3% increase from 2023. Overall, 1,300 people lost their lives on Australian roads last year, according to data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE).
For Secker and the motorcycling community, Sunday’s ride was not just about remembrance but also a call for greater awareness, respect, and accountability on the roads.
“When life is threatened the punishment must reflect the seriousness of the crime,” Ridge said.
