Monday 28 July 2014

MONEY SPENT ON BICYCLES

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS underspend on motorcycle & scooter riders but all three levels of government throw our taxes at bicyclists. Like bicyclists, most motorcycle & scooter riders pay road fees for a car as well as their bikes. Bicyclists do not pay for their pushbikes.

Cost savings to the community from the health benefits from cycling exercise are probably negated by injuries from crashes because bicyclists wear far less protective gear than motorcycle & scooter riders.

Manningham Council in Victoria will spend $440,000 of ratepayers money on bicycling this financial year.


Thursday 24 July 2014

BC Vs MC RESEARCH

Damien,

you may be interested in this (if you haven't already seen it). It's a copy of the questionnaire being distributed by VicRoads on motorcycle safety - for the purposes of the crash study being carried out by the Monash University Accident Research Centre. One was sent to a mate of mine recently for him to complete. Apparently he rode through one of the crash sites they are studying and they have taken a pic of his bike and sent this questionnaire to him to complete. 

If you read through it, you will see that many questions relate to speed and protective clothing (including whether the clothing was bright etc). Many of the questions seem designed to produce responses that suggest that the motorcycle rider is at fault and that motorcyclists are an inherently dangerous and risky type of individual. 

See the questions on pages 28 and 30, in particular. Nearly half of the 16 questions on page 28 relate to speed, and almost all involve what could be described as bad behaviour by the motorcyclist. Some of the questions on page 30 are just ridiculous - see, for example, the question about whether you own a gun. I think they have been watching too much Sons of Anarchy. Others are just irrelevant  - "do you have a high fat diet?" I bet a lot of academics have high fat diets. Probably a lot of bureaucrats too. Who cares? How's it relevant to working out what factors contribute to motorcycle crashes? 

As a rider, I do not like the tone of this questionnaire at all. It is hostile and antagonistic, and the questions appear designed to put the motorcyclist fairly and squarely in the picture when it comes to taking the blame for crashes. It is also hard to see how many of the questions could possibly help in identifying how particular
crash occurred. The survey asks nothing about whether the rider observed any risks present at the accident site, for example, or what sorts of things they considers present the highest risk or danger on the road. Or whether the rider thinks anything could or should be done to address these risks or dangers.

It is extremely disappointing, especially as this exercise is being partly funded through the motorcycle tax. Not really surprising though. 

Contrast this with the approach taken in the bicycling survey that is on the interweb at the moment. It basically invites cyclists to re-write the road rules to suit themselves. I did not see any questions in there about whether cyclists own guns or refuse to wear sunscreen.

Queensland is reviewing its road rules for motorcyclists but in Victoria there is action only for cyclists and this offensive and poorly designed questionnaire for motorcyclists, the bike tax and new high vis. laws for learners and more restrictions for new riders. 

Riders should be very careful about how they respond to the survey, as there is no doubt that this information will be used to justify more restrictive and punitive laws for riders. That is clearly its purpose.


Name supplied


Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: MONASH MC CRASH STUDY


Many of those questions are useful to ask... but they will probably
misuse the answers to push for hi-vis or to label riders as
irresponsible.

They really ought to do an investigation into high mileage riders to see
what they're doing right?
Michael Czajka
Road Safety & Research Officer
Independent Riders' Group


The questions are oddly framed and coupled in some cases and do not appear to pick up any vulnerability issues only aggressive ones.

No questions about cycling use etc.

Definitely slanted but originally aimed at exposure.

NAME SUPPLIED

TOO MANY CARS


































There is a Victorian election in November. Talk to your local media about bike issues. 

Go see your MP.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members

Wednesday 23 July 2014

VIC ELECTION - PARTY POLICIES

VICTORIANS VOTE on November 29, 2014. Political party policies on transport in general and motorcycling in particular, will influence the way I vote. On behalf of the Independent Riders Group I have written to the Greens for their motorcycle & scooter policy. The Victorian Motorcycle Council wrote to the parties and the response to the VMC's letters are below. Scroll down.

The Liberals are pushing a dangerous antibike agenda including compulsory flouro jackets, compulsory boots (no definition of boots), no traffic filtering, no bus lanes (yet?) and a lights on law that may change your legal standing after a crash. And it is the Liberals who are pushing the Queensland type anti bikie laws. Read the transcript in an earlier blog. It is frightening. 

It is not much more than 100 days to the Victorian election. NOW is the time to get involved. Be at the protest against the anti bikie laws on August 2. 11 am at Parliament House in Melbourne. Be in the public gallery at Parliament House in Melbourne on August 5. Be at the free seminar in Coburg on August 9.

AND, go see your MP.     www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne
********************************************************************************

Political Party Motorcycle Policy

Do you know what the policies are regarding motorcycle issues for each political party?
In May 2014 the VMC embarked on finding out just that and we will be publishing the responses from each party.
Feel free to read the letter sent to each party and write your own version to let them know that your passion and interest in motorcycles and the two wheeled culture makes a difference come election time.
Australian Labour Party
Victorian Labor believes that our roads should be enjoyed by all road users, be they motorists, motorcycle and scooter riders or cyclists. An important aspect of making our roads better for all users is appropriate legislation and adequate roads funding.

Lane Filtering

Victorian Labor supports the introduction of lane filtering on Victorian roads, to reduce congestion and improve safety for motorcycle and scooter riders. This was a recommendation of the cross-party Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety, however the Napthine Government has failed to address the issue and legalise the practice.

A Victorian Labor Government will introduce legislation to make lane filtering legal on Victorian roads, as it is soon to be in New South Wales and other parts of the world.

Motorcycle use of Bus Lanes

Reducing congestion and improving safety on our roads is of paramount importance. The utilization of bus lanes by motorcyclists has the possibility to both improve rider safety and lessen travel times.

VicRoads reported in its submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety that the 2011 Hoddle Street bus lane trial was ‘operating satisfactorily’. 

A Victorian Labor Government would support the use of bus lanes by motorcyclists if it is proven that their use increases safety for road users and also lessens congestion. 

Roads Funding

One of the most important aspects of ensuring safe roads is adequate roads funding. Unfortunately, the Napthine Government is underfunding roads maintenance across the state, allowing Victorian roads to fall into disrepair. Levels of road distress are at their highest for years.

A Victorian Labor Government will improve roads funding, by establishing a $2 billion roads fund for regional and suburban road improvements. This is guaranteed funding which will ensure better quality roads across Victoria.

Further Policies

Further roads and road safety policies will be released in the lead up to the November State Election.
Luke A Donnellan MP
State Member for Narre Warren North
Shadow Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC
The VMC thanks Mr. Donnellan for replying to our questionare and his committed support for Filtering and Bus Lanes

Liberal Party of Australia/Nationals
 Filtering
Spokeswoman for Transport Minister Terry Mulder, Larissa Garvin, said: “The Victorian Government did not accept the Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety 2012 recommendation on lane filtering, primarily due to the difficulty of enforcing the rule”. see reference

Bus lanes
"The Victorian Coalition will also introduce a trial allowing motorcyclists to use one ofMelbourne’s dedicated bus lanes." We have yet to see any further action on this issue in 2014.
Taken from the Road Safety Victoria Website in the absense of an official reply.

What we’re doing

Engineering

Improving  road and roadside infrastructure for motorcyclists
Continue to improve our roads under the Motorcycle Blackspot Program, targeting popular touring routes and specific sites that have particular risks for motorcyclists.
Advocating for an Australian  Design Rule for Anti-lock  Braking Systems (ABS) on new  motorcycles
Victoria will encourage the Federal Government to introduce an Australian Design Rule for ABS to be fitted on all new motorcycles sold in Australia.

Education

Improving  training for motorcyclists
Introduce a graduated licensing system for motorcyclists to help beginners develop critical riding skills under safe conditions. (Note - This also now includes mandatory Hi Viz Vests.)
Education and media  campaigns targeting all road users
Continue the ‘put yourself in their shoes’ campaign that highlights risks and actions for both drivers and riders in sharing the road together.
Promoting the benefits of protective clothing
  • Develop new education materials that highlight to motorcyclists the benefits of wearing protective clothing.
  • Introduce a mandatory requirement for motorcyclists to wear boots that are at least ankle high to better protect them.
Educating recreational and weekend riders
Deliver new campaigns on the risks associated with recreational and weekend riding in country Victoria and on long route rides.

Enforcement

Reducing speeding among motorcyclists
Work towards resolving the current inequity that exists between motorcyclists and other road users where motorcyclists are not detected when committing traffic offences due to the lack of a front number plate.

The Australian Greens Victoria
Independent Members
Australian Christians
Australian Sex Party
Country Alliance
Democratic Labor Party (DLP) of Australia
Family First Party Victoria
Palmer United Party
Solicalist Alliance

ABC NEWS WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

ABC NEWS wants to know what issues are important to Victorians and how politicians' policies regarding these issues will influence your vote.

I said I was concerned about the anti bikie laws being pushed by Attorney General Robert Clark MP. I said I wanted the 64 Parliamentary Inquiry recommendations introduced. And, I said I wanted VicRoads audited to cut back waste especially in signage, road barriers and road maintenance.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-21/victoria-votes-vote-compass-abcmyvote/5600394

Damien
IRG

VICROADS HIDEOUSLY INEFFICIENT

Billions spent on roads in “hideously inefficient” way

Date
  • 22 reading now


More than $20 billion a year of national road funding is being spent in a “hideously inefficient” manner, according to a leaked assessment by Australia’s independent infrastructure umpire.

The Infrastructure Australia report, obtained by Fairfax Media, has also delivered a scathing critique of “monopoly” state-run road entities such as VicRoads, claiming a culture of resisting reform has led to a situation  in which political leaders are held “captive” to demands for more funding.

“The unhealthy focus of road agencies appears set on ‘getting, controlling and spending’ more taxpayer money, rather than questioning efficiency or value to the motorist and governments,” the report says.

The report, "Spend more, waste more, Australia's roads in 2014: moving beyond gambling," was sent to industry experts on Tuesday for comment. But, just hours after it was circulated, Infrastructure Australia’s acting coordinator John Fitzgerald ordered its withdrawal.

Mr Fitzgerald said the report had been emailed “in error” by a consultant. He said it had been withdrawn because he had not read it, nor had it been properly considered by the Infrastructure Australia council or the federal government.

“While I’m still here, I value good processes to ensure that publications from Infrastructure Australia are of the highest quality,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The report, which claimed Australia has a “gambler’s addiction to roads”, said national road spending is now outstripping revenue raised through road-related taxes and charges, warning “Australia’s thirst for roads” would come at the expense of other services as the gap continues to widen. In the four years to June 30, 2012, road spending outstripped road revenue by $4.5 billion.

“Given that current governments at all levels display an appetite for much greater road spending in future, this trend should give rise to urgent questions of efficiency about how road funds are raised and allocated,” the report said.

It suggested there was little consideration of whether Australia’s demands for new roads should be satisfied, and argued that rail funding had missed out as a result.

“The current Australian system assumes that roads are an answer to most transport problems and seeks more and more funding to that end, with little consideration of alternatives that most other developed parts of the world enjoy, such as significant heavy intercontinental rail networks and dominant heavy mass transit systems."

It suggested a better approach would be to increase private-sector investment in roads.

“These efforts should bypass road agencies, which in most observed cases, will only suffocate or over-complicate such opportunities if given carriage of them.”

The report said since Infrastructure Australia was set up in 2008 to provide independent advice on infrastructure projects, it has received more than 1000 proposals, mostly for road projects.

“They were almost universally poor, in that they lacked any cost-benefit rigour whatsoever,” it said. “The real problem is that road agencies and other road project proponents in industry and the community spend next to no effort examining what problems their projects and plans are trying to solve, other than the perceived problem that they do not have enough road funding.”

The report raises interesting questions for the federal government, which has a road-focused approach to infrastructure funding. During the 2013 election campaign, Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared that the Commonwealth should “stick to its knitting” and focus on funding roads rather than urban rail.

The Napthine government too has been criticised for failing to submit a robust benefit-cost analysis for its East-West Link  to Infrastructure Australia. But, with about $27 billion of transport projects announced in the May budget, it has also been keen to involve the private sector.

The report was also critical of the federal government’s efforts to predict increases in road traffic, claiming urban congestion had consistently been overstated as a result.

In Melbourne, the government had predicted a 27 per cent jump in road vehicle kilometres travelled in the decade to 2011-12. In reality, vehicle use had increased by just 15 per cent, it said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/billions-spent-on-roads-in-8220hideously-inefficient8221-way-20140722-zvqcg.html#ixzz38EpGm2hn

Sunday 20 July 2014

WA DOB IN A BIKIE CAMPAIGN

On Tuesday at 7pm  on Ride :

  • Pauly Fenech talks about riding, Housos and his new show Bogan Hunters on 7mate
  • We discuss Campbell Newman's apology to Queenslanders
  • Beno from Hunter Motorcycles updates us on the controversial 'Dob in a bikie'campaign in WA
  • Dave Hartree from the Northern Territory Motorcycle Centre talks about riding in the Top End
  • We reflect on a great ride though Macquarie Pass during filming for Temporary Australians
  • And we discuss the TA visit to Melbourne over August 8-9
  • Plus a mixture of news and music
Proudly sponsored by Fraser Motorcycles Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong ,Melbourne and Perth
and Skillmaster Motorcycle Services.

Listen online via www.alive905.com.au

Thursday 17 July 2014

ELECTRIC NUMBER PLATES

TELEMATICS can monitor a vehicles location and movement. This is what the front number plates push was about. In my opinion, it was never really intended to put a sticker or plate on every motorcycle & scooter. I think they were using the riding community to put a foot in the door, as they say, to get electronic tags on every vehicle in similar fashion to the anti bikie laws they are pushing now to massively increase police powers.

Think about it. When every vehicle has an electronic tag, every road becomes a toll road. Canberra will know who is going where and when and how fast. Police will have access to this information and be able to issue speeding fines anywhere, any time.

The bureaucrats will be able to monitor every person in the country pretty much.

































If you don't want number plates to read VICTORIA THE POLICE STATE. Be at Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday, August 2. Speeches at 11 am. And at the free seminar on August 9, 2014.

Tuesday 15 July 2014

THE FUTURE OF MOTORCYCLING



A FREE SEMINAR ON
THE FUTURE OF MOTORCYCLING
IN VICTORIA

Saturday, 9th August 2014

The Brown's Corner Hotel
502  Sydney Road,  Coburg.

NOON to 1.55 pm LUNCH
(attendees pay for their own lunch)

2.00 pm WELCOME & INTRODUCTION by MC Damien Codognotto OAM
Speakers will raise issues that effect motorcycle & scooter riders
then there will be question & answer sessions
2.05 pm Shadow Minister for Roads & TAC Luke Donnellan MP
2.30 pm Damien. Bad data & bad advice means bad laws.
2.35 pm Steve Bardsley from the VSRA. "The Blame Game".
3.00 pm Damien. Court observers & the IRG survey & anti club laws.
3.05 pm John Voyage. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
"Sorry mate. I did not see you"
3.30 pm Damien. State election Novemeber 29, 2014.
If you want fair laws, taxes & treatment on the road GET INVOLVED.
3.35 PM Vicky Creed on communicating with politicians.
Hi Viz vest laws.
3.55 Damien. The TOY RUN for Father BOB will generate good media.
4 pm Close.

Greg Hirst will film the seminar for his Temporary Australians TV show

For details on the seminar go to



Hi. Thanks for the info on your seminar. I have updated our events page on the Ozbike website today. You can check the entry at: http://www.ozbike.com.au/events

Skol

Monday 14 July 2014

GREG'S NEXT BROADCAST

On Tuesday at 7pm  on Ride :

  • We look into another superb riding performance by Mark Marquez in Moto GP
  • Phil Mahoney updates us on the progress towards this years Australian Moto GP at Phillip Island
  • We talk to Geoff Fry about the National Douglas Rally at Bathurst in November celebrating the 100 Year anniversary the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1914.
  • Tracy Lee Hughes joins us to discuss a couple of Ducati Owners Club events
  • Top end riding and the ANDRA Drags provide highlights for Temporary Australians filming in Darwin last weekend
  • And we gear up to film a ride from Frasers in Wollongong this Saturday to film the ride through Macquarie Pass to the Robertson Pie shop.
  • Plus lots of news and music
Proudly sponsored by Fraser Motorcycles Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong ,Melbourne and Perth
and Skillmaster Motorcycle Services.
Listen online via www.alive905.com.au

Saturday 12 July 2014

AMCN ON IRG

AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLE NEWS printed a letter by Independent Riders Group (IRG) member Lindsay Swift. Lindsay warns that being apathetic about bike politics is costing us our right to ride. He says weak bike representatives are worse than no representatives.

The IRG represents individual riders and surveys them to develop policies in line with what riders want and need. Then it lobbies hard to influence governments to give riders a fair go. You can get a copy of the 2014 survey form by emailing  d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com .
As Lindsay points out, the IRG does not collect membership fees. Most of the work being done is paid for out of members' pockets.

If you can't get too involved, you can help by filling in the survey and get others to join. Numbers count. 

Attend an IRG function or three during the year. Seminar - August 9. TOY RUN - December 7.

Or you can make a donation at the Bendigo Bank.

Account name: Independent Riders Group.

Account number: 633 108 1512 66574.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman 
Independent Riders Group




Friday 11 July 2014

TRAFFIC FILTERING WORKS IN NSW

Victoria does not need a new law against "lane splitting" at speed as in NSW because that 
behaviour is already covered by existing laws on dangerous riding.
 
All Victoria needs is a change in the regulations governing pushbikes overtaking cars to 
include motorcycles & scooters. And, expanding the bicycle "safety boxes" across all lanes 
approaching intersections to facilitate safe motorcycle & scooter traffic filtering.
 
Traffic filtering has existed since there has been traffic. Legitimising traffic filtering recognises it 
exists, makes traffic flow better and makes riders safer.
 
 
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group

Melbourne

LETTER TO THE VIC ROADS MINISTER

On Thu, Jul 10, 2014 at 3:34 PM, DAMIEN CODOGNOTTO OAM

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com  wrote:


Good for you Vicki.
 
Getting them to write something like that to you four months before
an election is very good indeed.
 
You can reply to Minister Mulder at:
 
 
cc me and the Shadow Minister
 
 
and I will put your letter and Blackwood's on the blog, on facebook and I'll send it to every Victorian MP and a number of public servants too.
 
I can remove your ID if you wish.
 
Luke Donnellan MP will be at the seminar in Coburg on August 9. I have invited Mulder but he has not said yes or no yet.
 
Damien
IRG

































Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:21 PM
Subject: Fwd: DOT119642 - SAFETY CLOTHING - PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS


What a load of crap!!!

And I cannot even reply as it is from an unattended mailbox!!!!~!!!!!

Vicky Creed

Hi Damien

Below was sent to both Terry Mulder and Gary Blackwood today, and posted on Gary Blackwood's facebook page.

I hereby give you full permission to use this letter in part, or in entirety, for whatever use you see fit to benefit our cause.

Kind Regards

Vicky Creed



Dear Mr Mulder and Mr Blackwood,

Please find below my response to a letter I received yesterday, from a no reply available email address, (DOT119642 - File No: PC021188). 

My name is Vicky Creed - I am currently 55 years old and have held a car licence for 34 years.  I got my motorcycle learner's permit at age 44 and have been riding for the last 10 years, after being a pillion for many years before that.  I have a daughter who is currently completing her car learner driver permit and hopes to be taking her driver's licence test in the near future. 

I sometimes wear a construction industry standard hi-vis vest when riding, (not as a pillion), with day/night reflective stripes.  Whilst it may have assisted me in standing out at times, it has never yet stopped a car from trying to run me down.  On two occasions when wearing it I was very nearly killed, and would have been if it were not for sheer luck in the first instance, and my riding skills in the second.  I also have a grandfather who was killed whilst riding his motorcycle to work, on a clear day, wearing bright colours, by a car as it came swerving out of a side road.

I have travelled extensively by both car, bicycle and motorcycle throughout the eastern states of Australia, both urban and country, in all weather conditions and road types.  Because of my bicycle and motorcycle history, I am more aware of these vehicles on the road, and look out for all road users.  I will say, that I find motorbike riders to be more safety conscious and more road courteous any day over a cyclist, but that is another matter.

I am a motorsport marshal, a member of the SES, have been involved with First Aid and attending accidents for over four decades, and am currently studying for my Diploma in OHS - hence I can say I am very aware of safety and have a lot of experience in road usage.  To that end, I give you my reply to your letter below - please take very good note of it, as my vote is influenced by your actions, and I am very happy to influence other's votes should I feel my voice is not being listened to:


Para 1.  My suggestion was that if it was to become compulsory for motorcycle learners to wear safety vests because of the high risk nature of riding, then it should be compulsory for cyclists and pedestrians as they are more at risk of involvement in vehicular impacts, and at far greater likelihood of serious injury - I at no time suggested that this was a good idea in the first place.

Para 2.  If the Minister considers road safety to be so important, then why couldn't he take the time to answer my letter himself, as it was addressed to him.

Para 3.  With regards to measuring road safety intervention, there has been very little effect of the road safety intervention of bicycle helmets given that most suburban streets see cyclists of all ages riding without helmets, most major roads often have cyclists without helmets, and whilst the wearing of a helmet is compulsory by law, the Police do not enforce this law, VicRoads do not consider it worthy of their attention, and people are still being severely injured by not obeying this law.  Where are your teeth in backing this up, or are there just too many cyclists on the road for the Government to worry about - "let's go after a smaller group that we can slug higher fines for not obeying the laws we make"?   A motorcyclist without a helmet will be pulled over by the Police, even reported by other road users, but a cyclist without a helmet is ignored (I have seen it too many times for you to tell me otherwise), and you claim that you are only interested in safety!
            
Para 4.  High visibility clothing may be more effective in urban areas, but not all motorcycle learners live in such areas - yet you would have everyone wear them even if they are of little or detrimental benefit, as I have found to be the case on country roads.
             Also, you quote certain reports re- research conducted, but pay absolutely no attention to the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry in to Motorcycle and Scooter Safety, (which was very extensive, not to say expensive as well, given that this committee travelled all over the world to gather their data), and their recommendations that compulsory wearing of hi-vis safety vests would be of little or no value in promoting and obtaining safety of riders.
             As for that “80% of novice rider crashes occur within the greater metropolitan area” - this is because that is where most drivers of cars/trucks are!  Most of these drivers have never been taught/educated on how to share the roads they are on.  Add to this that most, especially young drivers, do not pay attention to other road users, and you get  "I didn't see you" as an easy excuse and nearly always the one used when a driver hits a rider, be that rider wearing a hi-vis vest or not.

Para 5.  If the Victorian Government were really serious about improving motorcyclist safety, why are you ignoring the recommendations of the PIMS, and why are you concentrating nearly solely on the motorcyclist, with little or no emphasis on drivers taking responsibility for their driving, i.e. little or no education programs on road sharing, most media advertisements concentrating on the rider being responsible for his safety even when the driver has done the wrong thing, etc.

Para 6.  Pedestrians and Cyclists MAY benefit from hi-vis clothing?  Are you serious?  Of course the wearing of such vests would be of benefit - especially given your stance on high visibility for other road users!
             Also, if an educative approach is considered most effective for cyclists and pedestrians, then why is it not considered most effective for motorcycle and car users - when you come down to it, we are all the same you know, and many of us make use of multiples of these modes of transport.
             Added to this, I have attended more cycling and walking incidents than motorcycle incidents, when I stop to give my considerable expertise at an accident.   Cyclists, especially, can be injured far worse than a motorcyclist as they have far less, if any, protective gear and are riding a vehicle that is much more likely to not give them any protection in an accident.  But for some strange reason, there is little statistics recorded by TAC or VicRoads or even the Police regarding these incidents, as they are not generally considered to be "vehicle accidents".

Add to all the above the following:

- Hi-vis vests can and do create a perception of being safer, (what is called a placebo effect), because the wearer believes they can be seen so therefore does not need to be as super vigilant with regards to other traffic on the road, leading to accidents and near misses.  A learner has so much to concentrate on, that a hi-vis vest can and will give the feeling of being able to concentrate on other things, like riding style, rather than as much on road and other road user awareness.

- There is currently no compulsory training of car/truck users on others using the roads, not at learner stage, not at accident stage, not at court stage, not at any stage.  Nothing on how to avoid collisions, what to look out for, how to be aware of your surroundings.  Some teaching institutions, such as METEC, do run courses or include in their learner's courses, such training, but this is the exception - not the rule.  There are, however, recommendations that learners drive in all weather conditions, on all road surfaces and types, at all times of the day for a certain number of hours - so that they can gain experience for when they are driving on their own and can do so safely - BUT AGAIN I SAY, no emphasis is given whatsoever on sharing of the roads, especially with motorbikes and cyclists.

- There is no definitive data base, as has been recommended by the PIMS, of vehicular accidents - ALL accidents involving vehicles, whether cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles or pedestrians.  Until such statistics can be provided, there is no definitive evidence as to the amount of injuries and deaths sustained in motor vehicle accidents, singular or multiple, by whatever conveyance, and the costs of same.  Without such evidence, the Government cannot claim that motorcyclists are more at risk than any other group of road user.  Neither can they make effective laws or gauge how well a law or program is working, for without this extensive evidence their facts and figures are just pie in the sky.

- The Government is intending to make a law with regards to the wearing of hi-vis vests on motorcycles - first by learners but I am sure it will later come in to force for all riders - with no consideration given to costs, type, conditions of wearing, whether they are Australian Standard, what they are made of, when they need to be replaced, etc.  So how effective will a vest be then - and at what cost to the riders.  

As I stated before Mr Mulder and Mr Blackwood, please pay attention to the above, as your response to my original letter is full of flaws, and both you and the Government really need to think this intended law through.

With Regards

Vicky Creed

Tuesday 8 July 2014

MUARC MC STUDY

http://www.bikepoint.com.au/content/news/2014/Motorcycle-safety-study-aims-to-get-full-picture-44553

Motorcycle safety study aims to get full picture
A Victorian uni is comparing the experiences of riders injured in crashes at specific sites with those who come out unscathed, with results expected in 2015

The safety of motorcyclists is the focus of a comprehensive investigation into factors contributing to crashes, with the study being conducted by a team of scientists and investigators from Monash University's Accident Research Centre (MUARC).

The study by the Victorian university is comparing the experiences of riders injured in crashes at specific sites with riders who have travelled through the same site safely. Factors being investigated include travel speed, rider profile, the behaviour of other road users and the physical environment.

“We know that speed is a factor that determines the severity of a crash, but we have less information about the role that it plays in causing a crash, particularly whether there is any interaction between travel speed and other factors, like rider experience, and crash causation,” said Dr Lesley Day, who is heading up the study.

“We also know that motorcycle riders are a vulnerable group for injury and, given an increase in the number of motorcycle riders it is important to conduct this study into contemporary risk factors within the Victorian context and the contributions these factors make to crashes.”

Injured riders admitted to hospitals in Victoria are being directly approached by researchers. To select a control rider, MUARC researchers are photographing number plates and recording the speed of riders passing safely through the site. VicRoads is then contacting riders directly to invite them to participate. Speed data is not being provided to VicRoads or used for any enforcement activity.

Consenting riders are being asked about travel speed, their riding experiences and habits, and the behaviour of other road users. In addition, injured riders are being asked about any other factors that may have contributed to the crash. Experienced and active riders have contributed to the questionnaire design to ensure relevance and improve study outcomes.

“The study aims to provide evidence-based information to riders and the wider community and to help road safety organisations make better decisions.  Ultimately, the study is about helping to improve rider safety and reducing the number and seriousness of motorcycle crashes,” Dr Day said.

Recruitment of injured riders commenced at the Alfred Hospital in January, 2012. The recruitment rate improved as more hospitals became active, but remained below initial predictions. Because of that, the recruitment has been extended until August, 2014.

Of the riders eligible (ie those injured), 214 case riders have been recruited, while 421 control riders are now in the system.

Hitherto, about 60 per cent of cases investigated have involved another vehicle, with MUARC currently investigating the feasibility of gaining information from the other road users for multi-vehicle crashes.

The study is being funded by the Australian Research Council, VicRoads, Victoria Police, TAC, Department of Justice, and VACC. Results are expected towards in 2015.


Published : Thursday, 3 July 2014
Am I being cynical or might it be expected one of the “findings” will be those not injured were wearing a high viz vest?


Regards


The study is being funded by the Australian Research Council, VicRoads, Victoria Police, TAC, Department of Justice, and VACC.
I too am very cynical about this when you see the players involved, it reeks of a study designed to find exactly what supports their agenda.


That's not cynicism, that's good, healthy suspicion.
 
Damien

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS WA RERUNS



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