Inquest into the Death of Glenn William STRICKLAND
Inquest into the Death of Glenn William STRICKLAND
Delivered on :29 January 2019
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Linton
Recommendations :Yes
I recommend that the Honourable Minister for Road Safety consider implementing regulations to require retailers of motorcycle helmets in Western Australia to provide written information to any purchaser as to whether the helmet purchased complies with the relevant approved standard for use as a protective helmet when riding a motorcycle on a public road in Western Australia.
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : The deceased on the morning of 18 January 2014 went for a planned long ride on his favourite Harley Davidson motorcycle. The route was intended to take him as far as Toodyay. He was travelling west on Julimar Road in Chittering, heading away from Toodyay, when he failed to negotiate a right hand sweeping bend and left the road and entered a stormwater drain. While travelling through the drain he struck an object, most likely a log and/or rock, and was thrown over the handlebars of his motorcycle and landed head first on the ground. The deceased was travelling alone and it is unclear how long he remained lying injured on the side of the road before he was found by passing motorists who stopped to help him.
The focus of the inquest was primarily on the events surrounding the death, the helmet worn by the deceased at the time of the crash, and the history of prior incidents on Julimar Road and what action had been taken by the Shire of Chittering and Main Roads both prior to, and after, the death to increase the safety of the road. The inquest also covered issues in relation to motorcycle safety generally.
The Coroner concluded that the evidence before the Court indicated the safety of Julimar Road for motorcyclists had improved since the deceased’s death but more could be done. The Coroner urged the Shire and Main Roads to focus on working together to reduce the maximum speed limit of Julimar Road.
The Coroner noted the evidence before the Court had raised the possibility that the deceased unknowingly purchased a non-compliant helmet from a store in Australia and in that context made a recommendation requiring retailers of motorcycle helmets in Western Australia to provide written information to any purchaser as to whether the helmet purchased complies with the relevant approved standard for use.
The Coroner found the deceased died on 21 January 2014 at Royal Perth Hospital as a result of complications of neck injury and death occurred by Accident.
Catch Words : Motorcycle Helmets : Australian Standards for Motorcycle Helmets : Motorcycle Safety : Accident.
Last updated: 30-Apr-2019
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