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NEWS
Inquiry: motorcyclists need more respect
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has been told the government should consider training to remind "drivers how to share road space with vulnerable road users"One of Victoria's largest law firms has told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into motorcycle safety that the government should consider introducing mandatory or voluntary refresher courses for all Victorian motorists "to remind them how to share road space with vulnerable road users including motorcyclists".
"Victoria is experiencing a boom in motorcycle use, and attitudes to motorcyclists from the general motoring public and law and road safety agencies needs to change," Maurice Blackburn TAC principal John Voyage, said. "Maurice Blackburn has represented thousands of motorcyclists who have been seriously injured as a result of other road users failing to take adequate notice or care of riders on Victorian roads.
"It is essential that education for motorists is improved and one way to ensure this is would be the introduction of mandatory or voluntary refresher courses every five years.
"A voluntary scheme could be introduced with participants entitled to a reduction in the TAC premium when registering their motor vehicle.
"Motorcyclists are a legitimate and increasing presence on Victorian roads and more action needs to be taken to educate drivers, improve infrastructure and consult with the motorcycling committee."
Voyage said Maurice Blackburn had worked with a number of motorcycling peak bodies and individual riders to prepare the firm's presentation to the Victorian Parliament's Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety.
"Our submission outlines a number of areas where improvements could be made to bring together a holistic approach combining improvements in transport and road safety policy," he said. "Other road users need to accept that motorcyclists are entitled to share the existing road space in safe manner. Motorcyclists are not risk takers, these are Victorians who understand risk and take steps to mitigate it.
"A coordinated approach to bring together these key elements together is highly desirable to improve the safety of motorcyclists and other road users and reduce the impact of road trauma on our society and its associated financial costs."
Maurice Blackburn indentified a number of issues concerning motorcyclists on Victorian roads including:
- An increase in the use of GPS, music and entertainment systems in motor vehicles is leading to drivers being distracted;
- Motorcycle rider training does not take into account real traffic situations such as level crossings, tram tracks and other road infrastructure; and
- Funding for motorcycle safety initiatives is funded by a levy posed upon riders and not from general revenue streams which fund other infrastructure such a bike and cycling paths.
Public submissions for the inquiry into motorcycle safety closed on July 22, 2011, and were received for 43 individuals and organisations. Click on the following link for more information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference.
What do you think of Maurice Blackburn's proposal? And do you think it will be met with enthusiasm at government level?
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