The responsibility for road safety was shared by the Queensland Road Safety Council and Queensland Police which commenced a joint initiative in 1947. In 1952 the Queensland Police rolled out a school-based education program about road safety, and in 1956 a Vincent HRD motorcycle was gifted to the service by the Department of Main Roads, the side car used to carry a projector and other equipment, transported to class rooms throughout Greater Brisbane.
Vincent HRD motorcycle with side car, c1956.
Pictured left to right: Fred Markwell, Chief Inspector Fred Palethorpe, Constable Bill English, Jack Duggan, Constable Eric Newman, Constable Tom Laurie, Police Commissioner Patrick Glynn and Sergeant Banjo Paterson.
Image number PM1075B courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
In the early 1960’s, Triumph Saint motorcycles with a windshield fitted were used by police in Queensland. The efficiency of solo motorcycles, their ease navigating heavy traffic and when parking, prompted a larger investment, and in 1972 the Traffic Branch took ownership of a fleet of Honda CB750 motorcycles, all bearing a wide cowling, solid panniers and police decals, several used by the Road Safety Bureau.
The following photographs show police officers of the Road Safety Bureau trying out these Japanese machines at the Police Garage, Petrie Terrace Depot, Brisbane. The images were donated to the Queensland Police Museum by the family of Clifton Robinson. Clifton Robinson joined the Queensland Police on August 12, 1959 and was transferred to the Traffic Branch in 1960 and then the Road Safety Bureau in 1961, ending his career as a Constable 1/c in 1972.
Issue of new Honda CB750 motorcycles to the Traffic Branch Road Safety Bureau at the Police Depot Motorcycle Garage, 1972.
Image number PM34440e courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
Image number 3440f courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
Image number 3440g courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
This article was written by staff of the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available. The museum is currently closed due to COVID19, with staff working remotely by email and phone. When reopened, hours of operation will be 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month, and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Contact by email: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“New motorcycles for the Road Safety Bureau, 1972” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode