MIX criss-cross tracks, high speed, blind spots, 4WDs, cyclists, trail bikes and bushland together and you can see why Sutherland police fear there will be more serious injuries, and possibly deaths, on Sutherland Shire's dirt trails.
Officers attached to Sutherland police trail bike unit are concerned that up to 200 people each weekend continue to ride illegally in private bushland near Barden Ridge, Lucas Heights, Menai and the area known as White Rock, Sandy Point.
Police increased patrols of the land owned by Gandangara Aboriginal Land Council at West Menai, ANSTO and surrounding areas and stopped 50 people illegally riding during a four-day operation in late November.
Crime manager Terry O'Neill said officers recovered 10 stolen or abandoned vehicles, fined 15 people and did more than 150 random breath tests.
Trail bike unit's Sergeant Scott Robinson said police continued to target the area, especially after a 15-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after he crashed into a gate at Walker's Quarry in August.
"It was pretty serious, we were not sure if he was going to make it," Sergeant Robinson said.
He said the risk of head-on collisions was high and he was concerned about the growing number of 4WDs in the area.
"The risk of head-on collisions on tracks that criss-cross each other can be quite high and the isolation of the area when you do get injured increases the danger," he said.
"It is all privately-owned land, so no one is supposed to be in there at all."
There were eight fatal trail bike crashes in the shire between 2000 and 2004 but none since the inception of Sutherland police trail bike unit in 2007.
Sutherland police manage 47 complaint areas for illegal trail bike activity.
There are no off-road areas available for the legal use of trail bikes in the shire.
OPERATION TRAIL BIKE
(November 22- 25)
59 persons stopped riding trail bikes or driving vehicles illegally, or in restricted areas
10 stolen or abandoned motor vehicles recovered
15 fines issued
31 warnings issued for trespassing
2 juvenile cautions for malicious damage
153 random breath-tests
1 drug detection
1 bushfire extinguished
Source: Sutherland police
Should there be more off-road areas?
