Latest News

He's Doohan it for road safety

Oct 31, 2009

FORMER world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan is the new face of safe riding in South Australia.

Mr Doohan said a graphic new TV commercial, which superimposes everyday objects like phone boxes and trees on to a motorcycle track, should leave no doubt about the consequences of a street crash.

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Two wheels wins in crowded Sydney

Oct 28, 2009

Rising fuel costs, congestion, no parking, poor public transport and environmental concerns are driving up motorcycle use.

Yet, transport policy lags far behind and has failed to create equity for this growing group of road users.

Sydney Council’s move to free motorcycle parking one year ago has been widely applauded and embraced. Yet, the State Government has failed to create road toll and registration equity, and has inadequately invested in safety campaigns, according to the Motorcycle Council of NSW.

“The total spend on safety campaigns since 2003 has been less than four million,’’ Guy Stanford of the Motorcycle Council of NSW said. “But it makes economic sense to move to a scooter or small bike. The average car journey carries 1.1 people, rolling a tonne-and-a-half to shift just one person.

“Motorcycles are less than 200kg. A lot of people are shifting to motorcycles for convenience, initially because of the overstretched public transport system. But as petrol prices start to bite, it makes economic sense. There has been a big growth in 250cc bikes.’’

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Motorcycle Buyers Encourage to Take Advantage of Economic Incentives

Oct 12, 2009

Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show 82,601 motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were sold in the nine months to September – a 14.4 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2008.

“The motorcycle market has faced a period of challenging economic circumstances and although down on the record highs of last year has remained resilient,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

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Daytime Running Lights

Position Statement – Daytime Running Lights

It is currently being proposed that the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) be changed so all new cars are fitted with Daytime Running Lights.

Priority:- Medium

Where we are now:-

The proposal to change the Australian Design Rules so cars are fitted with Daytime Running Lights follow similar proposals in Europe. The benefits of such a proposal are based on research that has been conducted in Europe and the USA where lighting conditions are not as bright as they are in Australia.

As a result of the brighter conditions in Australia, the expected benefits of DRLs for cars may not be realised. This view is supported by the experience with automatic ‘headlights on’ for motorcycles. ADR 19 was changed in 1992 so new motorcycles were fitted with automatic ‘highlights on’ but this requirement was made optional in 1997 after research was not able establish that there was a benefit.

If no benefit could be established for automatic ‘headlights on’ for motorcycles, similarly there may be no benefit in having DRLs for cars.

There is some concern that if cars are fitted with DRLs that motorcycles will be lost in a ‘sea of lights’ increasing the number Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You (SMIDSY) crashes where drivers miss seeing a motorcycle.

Where we want to be:-

That any introduction of DRLs for cars has no adverse effect on motorcycle safety.

How to get there:-

Keep a watching brief on developments.

Encourage the Australian Motorcycle Council to keep a watching brief on developments