i think some of the facts are a bit out of date, ie zero alcohol and
power to weight with regard to NSW, but since the research would
probably only be looking at data from a few years ago you can see
why they say some of what they say.
surely skill training and testing is one of the only ways to reduce
bike accidents, it's all very well blaming other drivers but in at
least half of all crashes the bike is the only vehical involved

mark

--- In bikers_anon@..., "Greg Douglas" <greggyd@i...>
wrote:
> Haven't these people heard of fact checking, Academic experts my
arse. Why let the truth get in the way of a good story huh.
>
> Greg D
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
>
>
>
> http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/08/01/1122748554428.html?
oneclick=true
>
> Published in the SMH August 1, 2005.
>
> By Dan Silkstone, transport reporter
> August 1, 2005
>
> The study, by researchers at Monash University's Accident Research
Centre, finds that licence regulations for motorcyclists are
inconsistent across Australia and do not meet the highest
international standards.
>
> It also recommends that motorcycle licences should be regarded as
separate and higher-class qualifications than car licences, and that
they be made more expensive to obtain.
>
> "It's very easy to get a motorcycle licence in Victoria and very
cheap," said Narelle Haworth, who led the study. "For a form of
transport that has a much higher crash and injury risk than other
forms, that is not really sending the right message."
>
> The recommendations were greeted angrily by the Motorcycle Riders
Association yesterday, with the group's president, Dale Maggs,
labelling them a joke.
>
> "Many motorcyclists never actually obtain a car licence. They're
not interested in that," Mr Maggs said. "Motorcycling is their mode
of transport for social reasons, for economic reasons and for
environmental reasons."
>
> The study looked at motorcycle licensing and testing systems
across Australia and compared them with best-practice systems
overseas.
>
> It found that motorcycle riding required a far higher level of
skill than driving a car, and that the risk of crashing was much
higher for learner riders than for those learning to drive a car.
>
> Dr Haworth also recommends that engine size restrictions, now in
place in Victoria for P-plate riders, should be replaced with power-
to-weight ratio restrictions. "Power-to-weight has a lot more to do
with crash risk," she said.
>
> Mr Maggs said it was wrong to suppose that driving a car would
make somebody a better rider. "It actually works the other way
around," he said. "You are more aware of what's going on around you
after you ride a motorcycle."
>
> But the MRA president said that skills and road rules testing
should be made more comprehensive in order to tackle the crash rate
for learner riders.
>
> The study recommends that governments ban novice riders from
carrying pillion passengers and insist on a zero blood alcohol limit
for motorcycle P-platers - both measures that have already been
introduced in Victoria but not in other states (is this true???? I
thought it's 0 for L's & P's in NSW).
>
> But Victoria suffers in comparison with NSW because it does not
require new riders to undergo a compulsory training course. In NSW
riders undergo compulsory L-plate and P-plate training while similar
Victorian courses are voluntary.
>
> "The amount of training people get is not enough," Dr Haworth
said. "People are being allowed out onto the road without having
decent skills and the road is not a safe place to learn those
skills."
>
> A spokesman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said although
Victoria compared well with other states on motorcycle licensing,
the Government was willing to look at new research aimed at
improving road safety.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]