Press Releases and Announcements - 12 September 2011
All Victorian drivers need refresher road safety training
The Victorian Government should consider introducing mandatory
or voluntary refresher courses for all existing motorists holding a
full Victorian licence to remind drivers how to share road space
with vulnerable road users including motorcyclists, Maurice
Blackburn TAC principal John Voyage said today.
Mr Voyage said the number of motorcycle registrations in
Victoria had increased by 40 per cent to a total of 160,635
vehicles since 2006.
"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," Mr 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."
Mr 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."
Maurice Blackburn has 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.
Mr Voyage said the inquiry committee had the opportunity to
bring together a range of stakeholder views and draw together the
opinions of road safety agencies, law authorities and the
motorcycling community to create a coordinated approach to road and
motorcycle safety.
"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," he said.
A copy of Maurice Blackburn's presentation to the inquiry can be
viewed here.