Gone are the days when motorcycle police rode around in jodhpurs and a leather jacket with no protectors.
International Workplace, Health and Safety standards now require police to have certified safety riding gear.
Most seem to be complying in a more responsible example to all riders.
So we contacted all other state services to find out what their motorcycle police gear included, but only NSW and Victorian police replied.
NSW Police
NSW bike cop (Photo supplied by NSW Police)However, NSW Police did not provide any details, only some photos.
A NSW Police spokesperson simply said: “NSW Police continue to outfit motorcycle riders in approved riding apparel that is fit for purpose. NSW Police will continue to review new trends on the market when selecting the most appropriate rider apparel.”
NSW motorcycle police (Photo supplied by NSW Police)Victoria Police
Victoria Solo Unit motorcycle police uniforms (Photo supplied by VicPol)
A spokesperson for VicPol replied with a list of their motorcycle police gear and a plea for “all riders to ride within their limits, wear the right gear and ride within the conditions of their licence”.
“Motorcyclists are a highly vulnerable road user group and each rider needs to do everything they can to make themselves as safe as possible,” the spokesperson says.
“Yes, it’s mandatory to wear a helmet, but really it should be common sense to ride in full protective clothing.
“Victoria Police encourages all riders to wear protective boots, pants, jacket, gloves and helmet at all times when on their bikes.”
Victorian motorcycle police road uniform consists of the following:
Victoria Solo Unit road uniform (Photo supplied by VicPol)- Helmet = Shoei Neotec Flip Face and GT Air Full Face sourced from McLeod Accessories
- Jacket = Custom-made sourced from Glanda International
- Shirt = Normal police uniform shirt and or police bicycle shirt
- Leather Pants = Custom-made sourced from Tiger Angel Motorcycle Apparel
- Leather Boots = Alpine Star Gran Torino Gore-Tex sourced from Monza Imports
- Gloves = Alpine Star summer and winter sourced from Monza Imports
Victorian motorcycle police off-road uniform consists of the following:
Victoria Solo Unit off-road uniform (Photo supplied by VicPol)- Helmet = Arai VXPro 4 sourced from Cassons Imports
- Jacket = Rally Cross 3 DriRider sourced from McLeod Accessories
- Pant = Thor summer and winter sourced from Gas Imports
- Boots = Alpine Star Tech 8 sourced from Monza Imports
- Jersey = Custom-made sourced from Impact Sports
- Gloves = Thor summer and winter sourced from GPS imports
- Knee Braces = Pod K8 sourced from Monza Imports
- Body Armour = Thor or Dianese
- Backpacks = Kriega r30 sourced from Egress Solutions
Queensland Police
Queensland Road Policing Operation Inspector Peter FlandersQueensland Road Policing Operation Inspector Peter Flanders says the new DayGlo jackets will increase visibility to other motorists of the presence of police and make motorcycle police safer.
“We had to strike a balance between workplace health and safety on reflective material and making the jackets protective for the rider,” he says.
The jackets were made by G-Moto by Glanda to special Queensland Police specifications.
They replace hi-vis reflective vests that were worn over the previous black motorcycle jacket.
“So we can hop off the bike and don’t have to waste time putting on a reflective vest,” he says.
“If we had to give chase while wearing the vest, it would fly up in your face.”
DayGlo Queensland PolicePeter says he would like to see riders follow the lead of the police and take responsibility for their own safety with proper motorcycle gear.
“After 30 years of campaigning, the community now thinks drink driving is bad. In the same way, I’d like to see the riding community view riding in shorts and thongs as bad.
“But these things need to be decided within the riding community not imposed from without.”
- What do you think of the motorcycle police riding gear? is it a suitable example for riders? Leave your comments below.