RIDER DIES

THE AGE
LETTERS

The festive travel season begins. City drivers on country roads and
country drivers on city roads different times and conditions. A time for
extra care.

Motorcycle and scooter riders will be out there too. They are classed
vulnerable road users with bicyclists and pedestrians. What is just a
bump for someone in a car can destroy a family's happiness in the
festive season.

The Independent Riders Group asks all road users to take extra care
during the holidays. Prepare for longer trips. Stay alert. Heed
the VicRoads' message. "SHARE THE ROAD - Travel Happy".

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

Motorcyclist dies in Albert Park crash - Victoria Police News

http://vicpolicenews.com.au/news/8753-motorcyclist-dies-in-albert-park-crash.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/motorcyclist-killed-in-crash-with-taxi-in-albert-park-20151223-glub9k.html

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: FESTIVE SEASON ROAD USERS
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 10:19:45 +1100
From: Damien Codognotto <d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com>
To: MLA ALP - LUKE DONNELLAN - NARRE WARREN NORTH - MINISTER FOR ROADS

On 23/12/2015 7:43 PM, B wrote:

Damien,

I am sure you have seen tonight’s news showing a motorcycle rider has
been killed after hitting a taxi that was doing a U turn.

It looks to me very much like the Taxi driver not only U turned in front
of the rider but also U turned over a SOLID WHITE LINE.

You will no doubt have grasped that the taxi driver was committing not
just one offence, yet after the newscast most people believe another
dangerous motorcycle rider has been killed due to his own fault.

I hope the riders family and the general public get to appreciate
exactly who was at fault here and that all are made well aware the rider
had no chance and was not anyway at fault.

Regards

B

Thanks for the info B.

I didn't see it. I don't have TV. What a terrible start to the Festive
Season.

In my opinion, a lot of the reason the media makes misleading reports on
motorbike crashes is that some taxpayer-funded media units bias their
output on bike crashes to indicate the bike rider was the cause of the
crash and/or in the wrong too often.

This bias may, or may not be, policy. It may be ill-informed crash scene
reporting and ignorance on the part of media unit staff. This situation
is unlikely to change while the State Government permits VicRoads
appoint motorcycle and scooter reps.

Damien
IRG