TAC AD DISGRACE 8 - MAY 1 2012

 
Make TAC be aware of their harmful motorcycle adverts. Sign up please & pass it on !

http://www.change.org/petitions/tac-victoria-get-real-about-rider-safety#share

Dale Robert Maggs
Mob 0432 776 458
Independent Riders Group

TAC AD DISGRACE 7 - APRIL 29 2012

Your comment has been published:

This is the reason why I will ALWAYS ride as though I'm invisible to car drivers. Stop signs, red lights - none of these will protect you as the death of the rider on which the ad is based, shows. If we lived in a perfect world, car drivers would look for motorcycles, but we don't.

ANSWER: Teach car drivers to look for motorcycles and all vulnerable road uses (don't forget, car drivers also kill pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders).

Heather

www.heather-ellis.com

To comment online go to:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/new-tac-ad-shows-motorcyclist-breaking-neck/story-fn7x8me2-1226338811446http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/new-tac-ad-shows-motorcyclist-breaking-neck/story-fn7x8me2-1226338811446

TAC AD DISGRACE 6 - APRIL 29 2012

http://www.campaignbrief.com/2012/04/tac-targets-motorbike-safety-a.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Last I heard Grey's advertising was a St Kilda Road (Melbourne), big bucks ad agency. And the focus groups were organised by a market research company called Sweeney. Focus groups may be a way of finding out where to sell a new type of deodorant with set of steak knives thrown in free, but you have to question the value of this kind "research" in road safety, especially when the sample groups are small and participation is controlled.

Any surplus from our vehicle insurance should go to improved rehab, a better ambulance service and emergency wards, premium incentives to use "green" vehicles and "no claim bonuses" for safe drivers/riders.

http://www.campaignbrief.com/2012/04/tac-targets-motorbike-safety-a.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

TAC AD DISGRACE 5 - APRIL 29 2012

I'd appreciate it if you would let me know of any media cover on the latest TAC shock/horror antibike ad.

The TAC/Police/VicRoads promo was on the Herald Sun website on Thursday, April 26, 2012? But I have not seen anything in print, on TV or heard anything on the radio.

In my opinion that's partly because the media makes big bucks out of TAC and VicRoads.

It is also worth noting that police forces around Australia are pushing hard to have anti-association laws introduced. These laws are clearly aimed at bike clubs. The claim is that only patch clubs (OMGs)are being targeted but authorities are casting a wide net. Others will inevitably be caught in the trawl and have to prove themselves innocent. In my opinion these anti-association laws threaten many more organisations than bike clubs. In my opinion they are un-Australian.

While all this is going on the media on the east coast and in SA is covering bikie wars. And a ban on patches in Kings Cross clubs in NSW.

And the SA Government plans to introduce a massive TAC style antibike tax. The new discriminatory tax will reportedly double the cost of riding, putting it up some $300 a year. TBC.

In Melbourne the only media cover of the TAC ad by a rider was another Neil Mitchel masacre of John Karmouche on talk-back radio 3AW. I think that cost the motorcycle community any real chance of credible opposition to the ads in the short term.

From experience I know that a cold story is no story. Back in the 1980s the MRA was good with the media but a story that was 72 hours old did not exist. With today's electronic communications I reckon a story is hot for just 12 to 24 hours and we do not have a serious representative organisation to put riders' responses to stories in timely fashion.

One thing that would seriously help shorten response times would be a simple but comprehensive policy document so media releases could go out without "committee meetings".

The Independent Riders' Group (IRG) supported the joint media release initiated by the Victorian Motorcycle Council (VMC). IRG circulated the release and wrote to the Premier, media, clubs and MPs calling for a restructure of the TAC Board and a change of TAC priorities and methods. TAC ad and sponsorship money would be much better spent on rehab and the ambulance service.

It's on the blog.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

TAC AD DISGRACE 4 - APRIL 29 2012

TAC AD DISGRACE 3 - APRIL 28 2012

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

TAC AD DISGRACE 2 - APRIL 27 2012

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,

Cc  The Hon David Davis

Damien  Codognotto  OAM

INDEPENDENT  RIDERS'  GROUP

P O  Box  3091,  East  Doncaster,  Vic.  3109.

Tel: 03 9846 8621.  Email: d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

TAC AD DISGRACE 1 - APRIL 27 2012

Once again TAC shows the contempt the transport departments and
governments have towards riders.

This motorcycle TV ad is blaming the victim not the perpetrator
of the incident.

This is all based on speculation of what if the rider did this or did that,
well what if the driver moved from the stop sign a little later and the
rider was doing the posted speed limit, the scenario would have been
the same outcome.

If the driver would have obeyed the road rules of making sure there was
nothing coming, before moving off from the STOP sign it would have been
a different outcome.

These type of ad campaigns only go to insure more discrimination against
motorcyclists and empowers the drivers negative attitude towards riders.

We motorcyclists ride every time we are on the road as if every one is out
to kill us and for me that is what this commercial goes to prove. It shows that
drivers don't care about the vulnerable road user nor do the transport
departments or governments.

Until there is a change in the mind set (ATTITUDE) of all road users these
type of crashes will continue to happen. You only have to read some of the
comments that are attached to the news article to see the attitude of the
road user of today.

Steve Clancy
MRAQ VP

aka Prickle

TAC SHOCK BIKE AD A DISGRACE

The VicRoads/TAC/Police policy to discourage motorcycling, identified by the Parliamentary Road Safety Committee inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety in the early 1990s, obviously survives in 2012.

This kind of vilification does nothing for road safety.

At a time when Victoria won't spend more on ambos, police, nurses and teachers the government needs to take a long hard look at this massive waste of our money.

I doubt the Motorcycle Advisory Group (MAG), or VMAC, at VicRoads was consulted on this ad. Even if they were, I doubt their input was taken seriously. Motorcycle & scooter advisory groups are treated as window dressing by Australian road authorities.

I'd appreciate road riders comments on this ad. I'll pass them on to the Premier, anonymously if you wish.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/new-tac-ad-shows-motorcyclist-breaking-neck/comments-fn7x8me2-1226338811446

Damien Codognotto OAM

Spokesman

Independent Riders' Group

Melbourne

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com 

HERALD SUN LETTER - APRIL 24 2012

The Herald Sun
Letters


Melbourne  is  too  congested  say  84%  of  respondents  to  Voteline
(24/4/2012). It's obvious there are too many cars on our roads and too
few parking spaces. Quality of life is declining in our choking city.


Single-occupant cars make up 70% of traffic. In the short term, reduce
the  number  of  single-occupant  cars  by promoting alternatives like
two-wheelers  and  public transport. Lower road costs for motorbikes &
scooters  and  increase capacity at more than 200 existing park& ride
facilities.


In  the  mid  term put our money into rail rather than new roads. More
roads  means  more  cars,  more  tolls  and  more of our dollars going
overseas.


The problem and solutions are obvious but too many vested interests in
business  and our road authorities prevent positive moves for all road
users.  It takes a strong transport minister to face up to the obvious
and  do  something, but we haven't seen any strong transport ministers
in many years.


Damien Codognotto
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

ON THE TELLY

PERTH - Episode 7

On Temporary Australians:

1.  We find out what makes the Moto GP at Phillip Island such a ripper race.

2. Damien Codognotto talks sense about footpath parking and why every state should have it.

3. We check out Robbo’s Harley Davidson in Canberra and find out how they keep an eye on staff.

4. We find out why riding a Harley can be a drag.

5. Ten Sports commentator Daryl Beattie talks about his racing and road riding experiences.

6. We find out how the Bling Brothers got their name.

7. Joe from HOG in Western Australia talks about the best rides in his state.

8. We find out from a WA politician why the motorcycle experience is fantastic.

9. We join riders in Cowes for what has to be one of the best biker parties that we have ever seen.

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 8

On Temporary Australians:

1.  Angry Anderson talks about his new role at Fraser Motorcycles.

2. Jonesy checks out some old bikes and finds out how to have fun on one.

3. Smithy from God Squad CMC offers some more relevant God stuff.

4. We find out why the Mayor of Bathurst rode in the rain.

5. Pugsley, editor of  Live to Ride magazine, shares some insights from his motorcycling experience.

6. With the help of Two Wheels editor Jeremy Bowdler, we checkout the newest motorcycling invention: a motorbike powered by compressed air.

7. Ten Sports Daryl Beattie talks about his favourite rides in Queensland.

8. Rob Smith from Motorcycling Australia talks about personal responsibility.

9. We find out why a motorcycle stunt team calls itself the ‘Team from Hell’.

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS IS NOW ON TVS ON TUESDAY  AT 9PM

DON'T FORGET A NEW REPEAT ON TVS AND ONLINE SUNDAY'S 3PM (SYDNEY TIME) - CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN:       


www.temporaryaustralians.com.au

NORTHERN IRELAND MOTORCYCLE STUDY - 2012

RIGHT TO RIDE has today published the "Northern Ireland Motorcycle Fatality Report 2012", an in depth study of 39 cases relating to motorcycle fatalities in Northern Ireland (UK) between 2004 and 2010.

The study, supported by the British Motorcyclists Federation Foundation, was carried out by Dr Elaine Hardy of Right To Ride with the collaboration of Dr Emerson Callender and Damian Coll of the Road Traffic Collision Investigation Team, Forensic Science Northern Ireland and Dr Richard Frampton of the Transport Safety Research Centre, Loughborough University, England (UK).  

The "Northern Ireland Motorcycle Fatality Report 2012" contains an analysis of 39 collisions investigated and includes information relating to vehicle data, the collision scene and the environment as well as human factors.

Overall, 41 motorcyclists were fatality injured, equal to 36% of total motorcycle fatalities during 2004 and 2010 in Northern Ireland.

Evidence

The evidence provided in this report indicates that each road traffic collision is unique but that in all cases the time frame from the perceived hazard to the conclusion of the impact either with another vehicle or with road infrastructure was typically between 2 and 3 seconds.

In 63.4% of cases, (n.26/n.41) motorcyclists applied their brakes prior to the collision and n.18 (43.9%) applied their brakes severely. Of the n.17 (41.4%) motorcycles that slid after falling, n.10 (24.4%) fell onto their right side and the remaining n.7 (17.1%) fell onto their left side. There were two cases identified where Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) may have made a difference to the outcome of the collision, both were on a straight section of road.

Analysis

Of the 39 cases analysed, there were 17 cases (43.6%) in which another vehicle was considered the primary cause of the collision. In thirteen of these cases (76.5%), the evidence highlighted that the motorcycle’s lights were switched on and therefore the other vehicle driver was in a position to see them. However, there appears to be a problem of looking but not seeing which may be due to the size of the motorcycle or simply because the car/van driver is expecting to see another car or van and has difficulty coping with the unexpected. (DC - My bold italics.)

There were four cases (10.3%) of speeding, but in all cases, the actions of the other vehicle driver  precipitated the collision. Equally there were four known cases (10.3%) in which the rider had levels of alcohol over the legal limit and or drugs in their blood. Three of these collisions were single vehicle (no other vehicle involved) and the fourth ran a red light through an intersection with no headlights on and impacted a car crossing the intersection.

There were 9 cases (23%) in which the motorcyclists involved in a collision were either riding in a group or with another motorcyclist. In all these cases the total number of motorcyclists killed was n.11/n.41 (26.8%).

Focus Group

A focus group of trainers, a collision investigator, police and government agency representatives discussed the relevance of technology on vehicles as a deterrent to collisions as well as the advantages of teaching hazard perception and anticipation in initial and advanced training as a defence against potential collisions. The consensus was that while technology may in some cases be beneficial, good training was more important. However, the availability, image and cost of advanced training seemed to be a barrier to getting more riders involved. 

According to the participants of the focus group, the best solution to avoid road traffic collisions is anticipation and hazard awareness. The consensus was that the only reliable way to prevent motorcyclist injuries and deaths is to prevent the collision in the first place, which means the rider needs to get his/her eyes up and scanning ahead, taking evasive action when a potential collision is still several seconds from happening.

"Northern Ireland Motorcycle Fatality Report 2012" – pdf 1.1mb – Click Here

http://www.righttoride.eu/virtuallibrary/ridersafety/Northern_Ireland_Motorcycle_Fatality_Report_2012.pdf

http://www.rightoride.co.uk/virtuallibrary/ridersafety/Northern_Ireland_Motorcycle_Fatality_Report_2012.pdf

Dr Elaine Hardy
Director of Research
Right To Ride Ltd

research@righttoride.co.uk

www.righttoride.eu

www.righttoride.co.uk

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC)

AMCdelegates mailing list

AMCdelegates@amc.asn.au
_______________________________________________________________________________

It appears this report excludes the possibility of using virtual reality to train riders. Putting riders in a virtual world is a simple and cheap method of training riders (and drivers) by putting them in situations that occur infrequently when riding on the roads... but which create a high accident risk.

This was the basis of my submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Road Safety Committee inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety in 2011.

Michael Czajka

Melbourne

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc

________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, 15 April 2012 

Indepth Study of Motorcycle Fatalities in Northern Ireland 2012

When assessing this study from Northern Ireland the differences in climate/weather, road environment/conditions and traffic types/volumes/flow between Victoria and Northern Ireland show should be taken in to account. Too often this is ignored by government researchers seeking outcomes that seem logical to them as car drivers.

Northern Ireland covers 13,843 square kilometres. Victoria covers 237,629 square kilometres. Northern Ireland is on an island at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Belfast is around 55 degrees north of the equator. Victoria is on the edge of a vast, dry, hot continent with roads that go forever. Victoria's capital city, Melbourne, is 38 degrees south of the equator. There are nearly 4 million Melbournians.

The population of Northern Ireland in 2010 was 1.799 million. The population of Victoria was 5,547,500. Victoria has the highest population density of any Australian state. Australians own 16.4 million road vehicles including road registered motorcycles & scooters. Victorians own 4.2 million road vehicles.

A good argument for encouraging traffic filtering for powered two-wheelers as road authorities do for pushbikes.

The same old lights-on propaganda is in this report. I would have thought new motorcycles sold in the UK would be hard-wired. Driver awareness and road authorities' lack of will to address that problem, seems to be a problem in Northern Ireland too.

Also, it would be good to know how the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) Foundation is made up and funded. I'm under the impression the BMF has a similar role in the UK to Motorcycling Australia here and the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) in the USA.

Likewise "Right to Ride".

Does the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) still operate in the UK?

The make up of the "focus group" does not inspire confidence and the emphasis participants place on rider, rather than driver, training seems to indicate a blame-the-victim mind set. This even though the problem of drivers looking but not seeing riders was identified in the study. It seems obvious that an increase in riders' skill levels will help casualty crash avoidance. It also obvious that a small increase in car driver skill levels and alertness would help casualty crash avoidance much more. Fewer in car distractions would be a good place to start. 

Safer car drivers will benefit more than just motorcycle & scooter riders. Safer drivers mean fewer road casualties overall. That benefits for bicyclists, pedestrians and car occupants too. But car driver training and car driver awareness/alertness does not seem to have been on the focus group's agenda.

How was crash scene data was collected? It has been clear at the Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety that crash scene data and analysis in Victoria is not adequate, especially in regional/rural areas. In this state, crash data collection at serious injury motorcycle or scooter crash sites does not get the same level of attention as fatals or multiple-fatals.

A constable with no specific training attending a crash site,  maybe hours after the incident and filling in a standard form, is hardly likely to supply reliable data to researchers who have little understanding of the way motorcycles & scooters operate in traffic. VicRoads/TAC/Police here are reluctant to admit this weakness in our system, let alone address it.

This Northern Ireland study sounds to me, at this stage, like something Vicroads would do. Its' credibility should be carefully tested. That is not to say there is no value in it. That is to say we would be irresponsible to take at face value a paper from the other side of the globe without looking at how it was put together and under what conditions. 

Not all road safety data translates well from country to country or even region to region. Bike law in Darwin may have a different effect on road users in Mildura because of the climate. Bike law in Sydney may have a different effect in Alice Springs because of traffic flow and the mix of vehicles. Bike law in Northern Ireland may have a different effect on riders in Victoria because of usage and distances travelled.

Damien Codognotto (L) with the Honourable David Hawker, Chairman of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Group (MAG).

Damien Codognotto OAM

Independent Riders' Group

Melbourne

Victoria  Australia

MORE BIKES ON TV

PERTH - Episode 6

On Temporary Australians we check out:

1.  Last year’s Sydney Motorcycle Show after a surprise move to Darling Harbour and see why huge crowds turned up.

2. Jonesy catches up with our very own Californian Highway Patrol Officer.

3. Canberra HOG take us for a ride around the nation’s capital.

4. We take time to remember our fallen mates and find out why Animal was less than impressed with the ride.

5. Johann from Oztrikes talks about wheelchairs and riding to the Alice.

6. We find out why Rob Smith from Motorcycling Australia wants lane filtering legalised.

7. We find out why Angry Anderson is the real deal and

8. Jonesy has a close brush withthe law.

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 7

On Temporary Australians:

1. We find out what makes the Moto GP at Phillip Island such a ripper race.

2. Damien Codognotto talks sense about footpath parking and why every state should have it.

3. We check out Robbo’s Harley Davidson in Canberra and find out how they keep an eye on staff.

4. We find out why riding a Harley can be a drag.

5. Ten Sports commentator Daryl Beattie talks about his racing and road riding experiences.

6. We find out how the Bling Brothers got their name.

7. Joe from HOG in Western Australia talks about the best rides in his state and we find out from a WA politician why the motorcycle experience is fantastic.

8. We join riders in Cowes for what has to be one of the best biker parties that we have ever seen.

FROM THIS WEEK TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS ON TVS WILL MOVE FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY APRIL 17 AT 9PM

DON'T FORGET A NEW REPEAT ON TVS AND ONLINE SUNDAY'S 3PM (SYDNEY TIME) - CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN      

www.temporaryaustralians.com.au 

            

BIKES ON TV

PERTH - Episode 5

On Temporary Australians:

1.  We join the famous MRA OZ GP Run in Cranbourne and find out what Olympian Kieran Perkins is doing there.

2. Cory Ness son of Arlen reveals what he was doing in Australia last year.

3. Federal MP Bernie Ripoll comes out of the closet and confesses to a long held motorcycle passion.

4. Jonesy talks to Rich from Bikers Australia about club life.

5. We find out some of the best rides in the Newcastle area.

6. We find out Hirsty reckons the boys from the Southern Cross Cruiser Club are good blokes.

7. Smithy from God Squad tells us why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

8. We say Goodbye to the Road Warriors Cafe.

9. Hirsty has a rant about slow speed signs on the Old Pacific Highway and

10. We find out what happens when 5,000 plus riders rode together to Phillip Island last year.

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 6

On Temporary Australians:

1. We check out last year’s Sydney Motorcycle Show after a surprise move to Darling Harbour and see why huge crowds turned up.

2. Jonesy catches up with our very own Californian Highway Patrol Officer.

3. Canberra HOG take us for a ride around the nation’s capital.

4. We take time to remember our fallen mates and find out why Animal was less than impressed with the ride.

5. Johann from Oztrikes talks about wheelchairs and riding to the Alice.

6. We find out why Rob Smith from Motorcycling Australia wants lane filtering legalised.

7. We find out why Angry Anderson is the real deal and

8. Jonesy has a close brush with the law.


FROM NEXT WEEK TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS ON TVS WILL MOVE FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY APRIL 17 AT 9PM

Don't forget a new repeat on TVS and ONLINE Sundays at 3 pm Sydney time.

Check the guide in:

www.temporaryaustralians.com.au


           

FREE STICKERS

MCC OF NSW NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2012.

The April MCC of NSW newsletter is available for download at:

http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/326.html

The Motorcycle Council of NSW wishes everybody a happy and safe Easter Holiday period.

Beware that double demerits apply over the Easter long weekend!

THE CARS THAT ATE SUBURBS

From: Damien Cognotto OAM <d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com>
To: publicdefender@heraldsun.com.au
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 1:34:42 PM
Subject: THE CARS THAT ATE OUR OUTER SUBURBS

APRIL 4, 2012.

===8<==============Original message text===============

Wes Hosking
Public Defender
The Herald Sun

"VicRoads  said  it  had  a  program  of  improvements to keep up with

traffic on major roads."

That says a lot.

VicRoads plans to keep up with traffic (meaning cars), but it doesn't.

VicRoads  does  not plan for Victoria's transport needs, including all

forms of personal and frieght transport, in the medium to long term.

Motorcycles  &  scooters  are  a  significant and growing part of road

transport  in  Australia.  See  the Victorian Auditor General's (VAGO)

report  on  motorcycle safety programs released in January 2011. There

are over 165,000 road registered bikes in Victoria. In the last decade

bike  numbers  have  doubled  while casualties have been reduced by at

least  25%.  Commuter  riders  are  one  of  the  major  growth  areas

identified and documented in the VAGO report.

www.audit.vic.gov.au

VMC graph.

The VicRoads/TAC/Police policy to discourage the use of motorcycles &

scooters, documented in the Parliamentary inquiry report (1992) and 

The Age (15/7/2011),  has  failed miserably. That failure demonstrates

how out of touch with the motorcycle community our road authorities are.

I believe the policy to discourage powered two-wheelers is a significant

cause of rider casualties. 

In  the  outer  suburbs  particularly  motorcycles  &  scooters are an

efficient  link  to  public  transport but of the 200 plus park & ride

facilities only a few offer even minimal motorcycle parking facilities

like lighting, security anchors or lockers.  You can fit five motorcycles

and up to ten scooters in a single car parking bay.

The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety will report

in  December 2012. The website has both submissions and transcripts of

evidence.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc

L to R: Damien Codognotto OAM, Terry Mulder MP (Now Transport Minister)

and Michael Czajka MRA Road Safety & Research Officer talk motorcycles & 

scooters.

Victorians  are  choosing  to  ride  road  motorcycles  &  scooters in

increasing  numbers.  It is a legitimate and sensible choice for many.

Bikes  save  time and money. Bikes reduce pollution, do less damage to

infrastructure and improve traffic flow.

Motorcycles  & scooters more than pay their way through road taxes and

charges  and  in  other ways. Tourism Victoria's Bicycle Strategy Plan

indicates  that touring bicyclists contribute some $364 million to our

economy each year. The Independent Riders Group (IRG) informal surveys

indicate  that  touring  motorcyclists contribute more than twice that

amount, particularly in regional Victoria.

www.tourism.vic.gov.au

Last weekend over 4000 riders attended the Ulysses Club AGM in 

Mildura pumping  millions  of  dollars  into  that city and to towns en route.

www.milduraweekly.com.au and www.sunraysiadaily.com.au

Tourism  Victoria  is working on a motorcycle & scooter strategy plan. 

Email the Victorian Tourism Minister and ask when the motorcycle & 

scooter plan will be released.

louise.asher@parliament.vic.gov.au

Motorcycling  has a positive dollar value  in  our state. It is the most efficient 

way to commute for a growing number of Victorians. It's safer than it's ever 

been. And, motorcycle & scooter riding is fun.

Damien Codognotto OAM

Spokesman

Independent Riders' Group

Melbourne

Tel: 03 9846 8621

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

CRASH SCENE FIRST AID

www.streetcred.net.au

40% OF BIKE CRASHES

A claims survey by a major Australian bike insurer, C2006, found 

that in 40% if claims the motorcycle or scooter was hit from 

behind by another vehicle. Looks like it could be a similar 

situation worldwide.

Five counties hit with seven fatal motorcycle crashes in 2011

BY BY GARY CHILDS

SUN, 01 APR 2012 18:59:22 CDT

a1 0402FatalMotorcycleCrashes,color.jpg

PEORIA

-

There were 162 crashes involving motorcycles last year in the Illinois State Police district that serves Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties.

Of those, 129 resulted in injuries to motorcycle operators and passengers.

Seven of those motorcyclists didn’t live to tell about it.

The nature of some of those fatal crashes has people still talking.
High on such a list is the accident Aug. 7 at North Sheridan Road and West Glen Avenue in which Korey Korenchuk and his wife, Rachel, were killed. The parents of two young daughters were stopped at a red light just before 2 a.m. when their motorcycle was rear-ended by a drunken driver.

“We were there about a week ago,” said Korey Korenchuk’s father, Mike, who, with his wife, Hilary, revisited the accident scene.

For many months after the crash, traffic signal poles at the intersection continued to be decorated with silk flowers and the like. Recently, permanent signs were erected at the intersection in their honor.

“I believe there is some solace in that,” Mike Korenchuk said.

State Police District 8 safety education officer Dustin Pierce said the district’s total of 25 crash fatalities in 2011 was the lowest among the 22 districts in the state. But the seven motorcycle-related deaths ...

“That is a high number,” Pierce said. “We definitely want to get that down.”

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, but the unseasonably warm weather in March sped up the first opportunity to ride by several weeks.

Those “Start Seeing Motorcycle” signs produced by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety will be making their comeback sooner rather than later.

“I think it absolutely did help,” said Wayne Wiebler, owner of Walters Bros. Harley-Davidson, where he began working in 1951.

“The law enforcement agencies have (“Start Seeing Motorcycles” static window clings) on just about every car they’ve got,” Wiebler said. “None of that hurts. It just doesn’t hurt at all.”

Another of the fatal crashes in 2011 that left a lasting impression occurred on the afternoon of July 21 at North Third and Margaret streets in Pekin. Willie Wiker died after an 81-year-old woman drove her car through a red light and T-boned Wiker’s motorcycle.

“That’s the kind of stuff that happens — nobody did that on purpose,” Wiebler said. “You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Operating a motorcycle while impaired, however, doesn’t sit well with Wiebler. Though he doesn’t necessarily like the term, Wiebler concedes such a measure could transform a motorcycle into “I guess you could say, a murdercycle.”

“It doesn’t make much difference whether it’s a cellphone or too much alcohol or too many drugs of any kind,” Wiebler said. “You’re just not in the condition that you should be in to ride a motorcycle safely.”

Pierce recommends riders take the free safety training course offered by IDOT. The trooper teaches courses at Illinois Central College in East Peoria.

“Maybe that should be a requirement,” said Mike Korenchuk, who said he didn’t know if his son, 40, ever participated.

Much to Pierce’s chagrin, wearing a helmet isn’t the law in Illinois. But should someone choose to do so, Pierce said the helmet should be DOT-approved rather than the garden variety.

“It’s not really doing them any good (otherwise),” Pierce said.

He also urges motorcyclists to plan ahead in the event other motorists don’t see their oncoming motorcycles.

“The thing I always tell my students and when I’m talking to people is, always play ‘what if',” Pierce said. “You know, what if this car does this? What if this vehicle turns in front of me?

“Where’s my outlet, what can I do? So if an emergency does happen, they have a little bit of a plan and hopefully an extra second to steer around (the danger).”

LETTER TO THE RACV ON REG COSTS

By all means mate! It would also behoove you/ them/ everyone to write to RACV using the letter in their previous issue as a reference. Now that they have opened the issue with this bloke's letter, they have set a precident and created a cornerstone for the argument to gather momentum!

Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:14:42 +1000
From: d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com
To: lindsayswift@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FW: LETTER

G'day Lindsay,

Good letter.

Can I put it on my blog?

Can I forward it to people working on rego reform?

Damien

Friday, March 30, 2012, 10:45:29 AM, you wrote:

LINDSAY SWIFT

NSW 2790

02 6351 4277

 

LETTER

  

The latest RACV members' magazine sports a letter from a motorcyclist and RACV member that merits some consideration. 

This bloke writes that it is unfair that he must pay compulsory insurance for every vehicle he owns. I could not agree more and have been banging my head against this brick wall for decades. He implores the RACV to take up this fight. I'll go one better. 

Why doesn't any motorcyclist's rights group fight for a fair registration/ insurance system where the vehicle operator is insured and each vehicle is registered?  

Then of course there's our exhalted industry. That it behooves motorcycle shops and accessory distributors to support anything that gives their consumers back hundreds or thousands of dollars per year, hithereto taken by the government is a no-brainer. It is also not a problem peculiar to any state - motorcycle and car owners throughout Australia are being shafted by the current, unfair system. If every state were to 'kick up a stink' about this simaltaneously it would create weeks of news and embarrassment for governments which would have to explain why the current system exists. 

As it concerns car drivers we can get RACV, NRMA, RACQ et al on side. This way the 'stink' will be kicked up professionally by experienced mobs representing millions of Australians and not merely another whinge  from the noisy, smelly minority that motorcyclists are percieved as. 

Our oligarchy does not give a rat's arse about our rights. We are not goverened by democracy and nothing will change unless we play it smart and work with these motoring groups and take this on nationally. This is our chance to have a win, but given the recent history of our lobby groups and our industry, their apathy, their crawiling to the government and their penchant for flinging shit at oneanother electronically rather than 'representing us' as their rhetoric claims, I am not holding my breath.

 

Regards,

 

Lindsay Swift

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS THIS WEEK

PERTH - Episode 4

On Temporary Australians:

1. Angry Anderson tells us why ‘Cars are the Enemy’.

2. We check out Harley Heaven’s new motorcycle museum in Melbourne.

3. Jonesy tries to interview charity riders Tex and Bundy with mixed success.

4. We look at Victory Motorcycles new store in Melbourne’s famous Elizabeth Street.

5. Chairman of the Australian Motorcycle Council, Shaun Lennard, explains why we need a national voice. 

6. Grant Howard from Brotherhood CMC faces a future of riding with the reality of cancer.

7. We find out about riding around Townsville in Northern Queensland.

8. And Hirsty gets a dose of motorcycle therapy close to the Melbourne CBD with Damien Codognotto from the Independent Riders Group.

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 5

On Temporary Australians:

1. We join the famous MRA OZ GP Run in Cranbourne and find out what Olympian Kieran Perkins is doing there. 

2. Cory Ness son of Arlen reveals what he was doing in Australia last year. 

3. Federal MP Bernie Ripoll comes out of the closet and confesses to a long held motorcycle passion. 

4. Jonesy talks to Rich from Bikers Australia about club life. 

5. We find out some of the best rides in the Newcastle area. 

6. We find out Hirsty reckons the boys from the Southern Cross Cruiser Club are good blokes. 

7. Smithy from God Squad tells us why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. 

8. We say Goodbye to the Road Warriors Cafe. 

9.Hirsty has a rant about slow speed signs on the Old Pacific Highway. 

10. And we find out what happens when 5,000 plus riders rode together to Phillip Island last year.

DON'T FORGET A NEW REPEAT ON TVS AND ONLINE SUNDAY'S 3PM (SYDNEY TIME) - CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN:

 www.temporaryaustralians.com.au