MEDIA RELEASE
The Independent Riders' Group has lent its' name to the attached media
release expressing anger at the Transport Accident Commission's
betrayal of the motorcycle & scooter community.
The number of road riders in Victoria has more than doubled in the
last ten years to over 160,000 registered machines and over 300,000
licence holders. Injuries and deaths from bike crashes have been
reduced over 25%. These Victorians have a right to ride. They more
than pay their way. They vote. There is an election in 2013.
The TAC's shock/horror media campaigns do not reduce road trauma
rather they promote careless and/or aggressive driving by some road
users.
The IRG has written to Premier Baillieu calling on the Government to
ensure that TAC reviews its' priorities and methods and changes the
make up of the TAC Board to ensure a balance of road safety and
transport expertise with open administration.
The hidden TAC antibike tax is now close to $70 a year on most road
bikes. This tax is discriminatory and should be abolished.
The IRG condemns current South Australian Government move to rip
off legitimate road riders with a TAC style antibike tax that reportedly will
raise riding costs by $300 a year.
If Victoria's four-wheel-drives were Targeted and similarly taxed it would
raise some $56 million a year. That money could be spent on patrol police to
crack down on in-car offences not using seat belts and/or mobile phone use.
Such a tax would be seen for what it is, discriminatory. It would not be
tolerated by car organisations.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/abolish-tac-antibike-tax.html
THE LETTER TO THE PREMIER
April 27, 2012.
The Hon Ted Baillieu
Premier of Victoria
Level 1, 1 Treasury Place,
Melbourne 3000.
Dear Premier,
As Victorians tighten their belts in tough times and our
ambulance crews and patrol police are under-manned our Transport
Accident Commission (TAC) throws money away.
The latest shock anti-motorcycle TV ad is a disgrace. It is more about
TAC's image than motorcycle safety.
Aside from distressing road trauma victims' loved ones, there is no
evidence to suggest these types of ad reduce casualty crashes. TAC
ignores the fact that the majority of pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle
and scooter injuries and deaths are caused by car driver error.
To the best of our knowledge TAC did not consult widely before going
ahead with this ad. Focus groups are a marketing tool not real
research. this is about Victorian's lives, not selling a new brand of
biscuits.
The TAC is a monopoly with a compulsory product. It has no need of
a glossy corporate image, sporting sponsorships or expensive media
campaigns. Surplus funds from our vehicle insurance should be invested
in better rehabilitation for crash victims, improving our ambulance
service, reducing premiums for safe drivers/riders and encouraging
environmentally-friendly vehicles.
The Board of the TAC has bankers and administrators but no one
experienced or qualified in transport or road safety, let alone
motorcycle and scooter safety. We have raised this matter with the
Minister responsible for the TAC and suggested suitable, qualified
people for the TAC Board. When will this TAC imbalance be corrected
for the good of all Victorian road users?
Sincerely,
Damien Codognotto OAM
INDEPENDENT RIDERS' GROUP
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9846 8621
d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com
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