Media
release
7
October, 2013
Motorcyclists
start campaign to ease traffic congestion and improve safety
Australia’s
motorcycling community has joined forces with road safety advocates Maurice
Blackburn in an online-campaign to urge State and Territory Governments to give
the green light to ‘lane filtering’ to ease traffic
congestion.
In a
video released Monday 7 October 2013 (see here http://youtu.be/wSRY7RxMF1g), the
practice of lane filtering – which is legal in many places overseas - is
explained graphically so that the community understands its economic and safety
benefits and potential to reduce road congestion.
Lane
filtering is defined as motorcycles moving between lanes of slow or stationary
traffic. It is a way of riding that eases congestion for everyone while
improving safety for motorcyclists when compared to being stopped in traffic. A
large European study* shows it’s is safer for riders.
Shaun
Lennard Chairman Australian Motorcycle Council said:
"Filtering
makes sense. Road authorities around the world are at last recognising the
positive contribution of motorcycle and scooter use in relieving congestion.
It’s time Australia adopted it too."
"I've
seen filtering in action across the world - in Europe, Asia and South
America."
"As
well as relieving congestion, there are safety benefits for riders
too."
John
Voyage, Maurice Blackburn principal and road safety advocate said it was
encouraging that a number of state and territory governments were already
looking at lane filtering.
“In
releasing this video we hope that policy makers see how this is a simple and
effective practice. There is strong evidence from Europe that shows that its six
times more dangerous for riders stuck behind stationary vehicles than it is for
those allowed to filter through queuing traffic.”
Through
the Stop SMIDSY (Sorry-mate-I-didn’t-see-you) campaign Maurice Blackburn is
proud to be leading a growing campaign for change for riders, giving them a
voice online and in social media, tackling legislative change and producing
compelling advertising and awareness campaigns.
The
video production was funded via Australia's riding community who bought Stop
SMIDSY t-shirts to fund the project.
*EU
Motorcycle Accident In-depth Study (MAIDS) Final Report 2.0
2009.
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inquiries:
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