1
NEWS
Vic Pol reignites identification debate
It's on again… The Victorian Police has recommended, in a submission to an enquiry into motorcycle safety, for compulsory front identificationThe Victorian police claims that, in 2010, 49 per cent of all motorcycles caught speeding through fixed and mobile cameras in the state could not be identified. In raw numbers, that equates to 10,800 riders which the police believes escaped fines.
Those statistics form the backbone of a police submission, released under the authority of Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe, to a Victorian parliamentary enquiry into motorcycle safety, which calls for compulsory front identification on bikes.
''The identification of all motor vehicles, including motorcycles both from the front and rear, will assist in reductions in speed and speed-related road trauma,'' the report said.
There has been an immediate reaction to the police submission. Prominent motorcycle advocate Marcus Wigan was on the front foot this morning, telling listeners on top rating radio station 3AW that he was “entertained” by the police statistics.
“I am always entertained by the way the police manage to produce statistics that don’t seem to line up with experience elsewhere,” he said. “When I did a speed camera study for VicRoads in 2001, it had 703 car violations without front number and identification and 1044 for motorcycles. In South Australia it was similar sort of ratio.
“These figures are so out of line with the experience of 10 years ago that it is something that I’d like to go and check. This a very interesting shift.
“There are only three jurisdictions where front number plates are still allowed, let alone mandated.”
Kieran Walshe responded to Wigan’s comments: “With due respect to the Professor’s research, it was 10 years ago. We do have a vast increase in the number of fixed and mobile speed cameras operating in the state and our date for 2010 is very clear.”
Meanwhile, the police submission to the enquiry has also called for riders being forced, by law, to wear five pieces of protective clothing such as a helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots. At the moment only a helmet is mandatory.
This represents a policy shift, with former Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay not a champion of the blanket mandate.
"Our intelligence continues to show that a lack of protective clothing continues to be a key factor in road trauma involving motorcycles,'' the submission said. ''While in the past we have maintained a strong push in encouraging riders to always wear full safety gear, we have now taken the next step and asked that consideration be given to the mandatory wearing of protective clothing and a national standard for this equipment.''
The parliamentary inquiry continues, with the last two days set aside for public hearings. The final report will be tabled in state parliament in June, 2012.
Read the latest Bikesales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the Bikesales Network's mobile site. Or download the all-new App.
Tags
Share this article
Written byBikesales Staff
See all articlesStay up to dateBecome a bikesales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe todayDisclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Consent
Download the bikesales app
