More anti bike legislation coming :(

[RedRoo]

I guess the inevitable was going to have to happen to curb the problem if we are not prepared to do it ourselves then the Govt will, the Govt does not really care that we are killing ourselves, they do however care about bad publicity and extremely high associated cost generated by our passion, hospital resources, rehab etc etc.. the following was posted in twistybitz this morning, rest assured everyone of us will pay a big price for it one way or another Thumbsup.gif

Here we go again...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/...ion=justin

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he is looking at ways to cut the number of motorcyclists who lose their lives on Australia's roads.

The latest figures show motorbike riders are 20 times more likely to be killed than car drivers.

State and territory transport ministers are discussing the problem at a meeting in Melbourne today.

Mr Rudd has told Fairfax Radio that motorcyclists account for up to 15 per cent of the road toll.

"Last year 240 motorcycle riders were killed and 5,000 hospitalised, these are huge numbers," he said.

"We're now working on a national road safety strategy through the Australian Transport Commission.

"We're going to look at a whole series of practical measures from the community about how we can bring this appalling fatality and injury rate down."

[Smitty]

the answer is easy..get rid of cars

that will cut the countrys reliance on oil, allow freeways to be freeways
cut pollution and probably save 3000+ car drivers lives as well


yeah...easy

[Saki]

the answer is easy..get rid of cars

that will cut the countrys reliance on oil, allow freeways to be freeways
cut pollution and probably save 3000+ car drivers lives as well


yeah...easy

Thats actually a really good idea!

But thats part of biking though, its just dangerous! having only 2 wheels and 0 cage. Maybe make the roads out of fudge and gutters out of fairy floss!
Is there any way to make biking safer ?

[photomike666]

AUS statistics 2006...

Smoking caused the deaths of 19,429 Australians in 1998-9 (Collins and Lapsley, 2002). This equals 53 preventable deaths every day. Smoking resulted in over 900,000 hospital bed days and cost over $700 million in hospital costs alone.

In 2006 cancer was the underlying cause of death for 39,753 registered deaths in Australia

The major underlying causes of death relating to cardiovascular health are coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. These diseases contributed to a total of 76,928 deaths as an underlying or associated cause of death in 2006.

Suicides counted for 1799 deaths in 2006.

Transport accidents (V01-V99, Y85) accounted for 1,668 deaths in 2006.
Less that suicide!

Sure, jump up and down on the motorcyclist - until they put similar resources into curbing major causes of death and injury, singling out our community is DISCRIMINATION!

[JetPilot]

AUS statistics 2006...

Smoking caused the deaths of 19,429 Australians in 1998-9 (Collins and Lapsley, 2002). This equals 53 preventable deaths every day. Smoking resulted in over 900,000 hospital bed days and cost over $700 million in hospital costs alone.

In 2006 cancer was the underlying cause of death for 39,753 registered deaths in Australia

The major underlying causes of death relating to cardiovascular health are coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. These diseases contributed to a total of 76,928 deaths as an underlying or associated cause of death in 2006.

Suicides counted for 1799 deaths in 2006.

Transport accidents (V01-V99, Y85) accounted for 1,668 deaths in 2006.
Less that suicide!

Sure, jump up and down on the motorcyclist - until they put similar resources into curbing major causes of death and injury, singling out our community is DISCRIMINATION!

Some very good points there. Leave us the hell alone. Its my life. I pay taxes.

[Strika]

Mike, that is cold statistics and doesn't it put things into perspective!!!! That rates as the best post I have read ever from you!!!!!!!!

[photomike666]

Mike, that is cold statistics and doesn't it put things into perspective!!!! That rates as the best post I have read ever from you!!!!!!!!

See Brendan it does work - 3000 posts and I finally manage a good one

[holly]

it mightn't be as bad as it looks

MRA has got off its a%$e and released the following

Rider group representatives were left wondering whether their attendance at a Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Summit organized by the Federal Government, held in Canberra on 10th/11th April 2008, was worth the effort as a result of media reporting of a statement put out by Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese’s office on Friday.

The facts are that, “Motorcycle crash rates are dropping, not increasing,” as stated in a media release by Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) Chairman Shaun Lennard. (attached). The AMC is the overarching national motorcycle body of which MRA(Vic) is a member.

MRA(Vic) President John Karmouche today stated that the MRA(Vic) was disappointed that the importance of the Summit, and the effort made by the 100 Summit attendees, many of whom paid their own way to attend, was being buried beneath a veneer of facts aimed at leading the public to form the wrong impression.

Mr Karmouche said today, “We went to the summit and came up with ways to address the problems about which Minister Albanese is concerned. The media reporting omits these details which were contained in the Minister’s statement and gives the impression that nothing has been done when serious work has already commenced and the Rudd Government is showing a willingness to work with riders and industry in addressing the problem.”

Representative of the feelings of the 100 Summit attendees, is a statement by Tony Hinton, Honda’s General Manager, who attended the Summit who said “What was great about this forum, as opposed to what is sometimes reported in the media, is that we discussed how to make positive moves forward.”

[Saki]

Mike i still think those stats are good to know! Where did you get them from btw ??

[mick_dundee]

Furthermore below.

The AMC has been in touch with the Minister's office about the motorcycle crash stuff in the papers this week. It's a bit more complex than the Herald-Sun or the ABC etc. said. Here is the bit of the Minister's media release that the media didn't bother to even read. It goes through all the crash stats etc then says...

That’s why the recent landmark Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Summit was so timely.

Organised by the Australian Government and the Motorcycle Safety Consultative Committee (MSCC), this landmark two-day Summit brought together rider groups, police, road authorities and safety experts from around Australia and overseas.

The Summit generated an enormous range of ideas to improve motorcycle safety, with proposed measures addressing rider education and licensing, police enforcement, road engineering and protective clothing.

I look forward to these proposals being further developed by the MSCC so that they can be considered by the Australian Transport Council for inclusion in the next National Road Safety Strategy.

The MSCC comprises representatives from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, motorcycle clubs and associations, and my Department.

The full Fatal and Serious Road Crashes Involving Motorcyclists report can be downloaded: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2008/mono20.aspx

And here's the Australian Motorcycle Councils take on the subject.

[quote="AMC"]
MEDIA RELEASE 2008 03

CRASH RATES DROPPING – NOT INCREASING!


The Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) welcomes the Prime Minister’s interest and concerns around motorcycle safety, and looks forward to the establishment of a national road safety advisory council – as long as the true facts are considered in formulating plans.

Speaking in Hobart, AMC Chairman, Shaun Lennard, was responding to comments on Fairfax Radio on Friday 2 May by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Mr Lennard also added further detail to information released by Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, showing that the motorcycle crash data in Australia was not as severe as had been represented.

Mr Rudd said on Friday that he had been unaware of the motorcycle crash statistics up until that time, and that the Government would be working to develop national strategies to address what he described as an “appalling” situation.

Mr Rudd was commenting on figures released that day by Minister Albanese, highlighting a 3.1% increase in motorcycle fatalities over the past 10 years.

Whilst welcoming interest in motorcycle safety from the PM, Mr Lennard sought to clarify some of the statistics released by the Minister.

“Whilst the number of motorcycle fatalities has increased by an average of 3.1% over the past 10 years, the number of motorcycles has actually increased by an average of 5.1% each year over the same period. Ten years ago there were around 300,000 registered motorcycles and scooters in Australia. In 2008 it’s well over half a million – that’s a huge increase.”

“The fatality rate has actually reduced over that period of time, with the fatality rate in 2007 the lowest it’s been in the past ten years. This is in part a reflection of excellent work done by some of the state jurisdictions in consultation with motorcycle rider groups.”

In recognising that more could be done by sharing information between the states, last month the Australian Government hosted the first ever Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Summit, in conjunction with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), with rider and government representatives from every state and territory.

“At the Summit, we witnessed a real willingness of government agencies from across the country to cooperate; improving communications with motorcycle rider groups. Key stakeholders were exposed to different perspectives on crash data and risk.”

“Let’s just continue to deal with the true situation. Whenever I point out that the motorcycle crash rate in Australia is declining, I always get ‘Are you saying that there isn’t a problem, Shaun?’ from Government people.”

“Of course there are far too many motorcycle crashes in Australia. The AMC is past the ‘blame-game’ though; we want to work on realistic strategies that can bring about further reductions.”

“In the National Road Safety Strategy, motorcyclists are listed as ‘vulnerable road users’ along with cyclists and pedestrians. ‘Vulnerable’ doesn’t mean more likely to crash – it’s about when you have a crash, the outcome is likely to be more severe. This is why motorcyclist injury numbers are above those for car drivers.”

“Mr Albanese’s comment last week that ‘your first (motorcycle) accident is likely to be your last’ is neither true or helpful, and only highlights that the Minister has not been fully briefed on motorcycle safety initiatives.”

“On the other hand, the media release from Mr Albanese made some very positive comments about the Motorcycle Summit, but generally the media has chosen to overlook reporting these.”

“The AMC will be seeking a meeting with the Minister to assist with his understanding of motorcycle safety, and the role motorcycles can play in other areas such as reducing traffic congestion.”

Mr Lennard concluded by referring to the forthcoming international motorcycle safety workshop.

“The massive increase in motorcycle and scooter numbers is not unique to Australia – it’s common across the Western world. In recognising that motorcycles and scooters are becoming an increasingly popular transport choice, the OECD’s International Transport Forum is hosting its first-ever international Motorcycle Safety Workshop in Norway in June.”

Mr Lennard will represent Australian and New Zealand riders at the workshop.

“Finally Governments are recognising that they need to work with motorcycle groups. I will be able to bring back from Europe information and strategies to improve motorcycle safety based on the best information and data available.”

“We look forward to the Prime Minister and Mr Albanese being able to make more positive comments about motorcycling in the future.”

[mick_dundee]

Mike, that is cold statistics and doesn't it put things into perspective!!!! That rates as the best post I have read ever from you!!!!!!!!

See Brendan it does work - 3000 posts and I finally manage a good one

Not necessarily Mike, just cos Strika rates it doesn't mean it's a million dollar post by any means

[red_dave]

See Brendan it does work - 3000 posts and I finally manage a good one

Not necessarily Mike, just cos Strika rates it doesn't mean it's a million dollar post by any means

I'll back Strika on this one!

Well Done MIke!

[Stereo]

Mike i still think those stats are good to know! Where did you get them from btw ??

Mad magazine

[Blurr]

does anyone know where they are at with instating the front number plates in VIC? I remember signing a form in the fight against the proposed legislation in VIC but heard nothing there after.

[photomike666]

Mike i still think those stats are good to know! Where did you get them from btw ??

I just Googled cause of death statistics and found the government finding for 2006

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf ... enDocument