‘You hit that on a bike and you’re dead’: motorcyclists blasts pothole crisis

Motorists and motorcyclists are calling out the crumbling state of Australian roads, warning worsening potholes are turning key routes into minefields and putting lives at risk.

Mannum rider and Harley‑Davidson enthusiast Paul “Jubba” Smith says the roads across the Mid Murray region, South Australia , are now so dangerous “they’re going to kill someone”.

In a video posted to Facebook , Smith filmed deep potholes and sunken repair patches — some “the size of wheelbarrows” — along routes near Cambrai and Mannum.

“Apparently, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport patched this road yesterday — I hit this pothole at the end here and it nearly threw me from my bike.”

Smith, who has been riding for 40 years, said Ridley Rd near Mannum had sunk an estimated 200mm since repair work was carried out the day before.

Ebi Lux from the Motorcycle Riders Association told 7NEWS the problem is widespread.

The warnings come after the death of lifelong motorcyclist Peter Mason, who died on Sunday after striking a pothole on the Western Highway at Trawalla, west of Ballarat.

Road users say the latest incidents highlight a growing safety crisis, with calls for urgent statewide repairs and more consistent maintenance across regional networks.