TASMANIA Police have been left wondering how to get the road safety message across following a horrific fatal crash at Perth on Saturday night.
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A 28-year-old motorcyclist and his 31-year-old pillion passenger, both of Mayfield, died after their unroadworthy bike collided head-on with a four-wheel-drive ute.
The crash happened about 10pm on Perth's Main Street.
Inspector Michael Johnston said the unregistered and uninsured bike had no lights and the men were not wearing helmets.
``Initial investigation suggests that a four-wheel-drive was making a right hand turn and the motorcyclist tried to cut across the path,'' he said.
The ute's occupants, a 48-year-old man and his 13-year-old son, were shaken but not injured in the crash.
Inspector Johnston said it appeared the rider was using a torch clenched in his mouth as a lamp.
``It was a horrible scene, all scenes are horrible when somebody loses their life,'' he said.
``These people have families that are today probably having the worst day of their life.
``What do we have to do to get the message through to people, there are road rules for the safety of everybody.''
A witness to the crash said on Facebook that the driver of the ute ``had no hope of seeing'' the motorbike.
Shortly before the collision a motorist contacted police about a motorcycle overtaking him, which police said may have been the crash victims.
Inspector Johnston said speed might have been a factor and police were waiting on toxicology reports.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the pillion passenger while the rider had already died when they arrived.
The crash caps a horror month for motorcycle fatalities with six deaths occurring in December.
Tasmanian Motorcycle Council president Shaun Lennard told the ABC that the accident was a tragedy but was ``not indicative of people who ride motorcycles in this state''.
``People riding unregistered motorcycles with no lights and no helmets at night time . . . is horrendously dangerous,'' he said.
Inspector Johnston urged motorists to be cautious in the lead-up to the busy holiday period.
``When you're on the road be safe, think about what you're doing, ride or drive to the speed and the conditions,'' he said.
The state's road toll stands at 34.