http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/311.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2 November 2010
SUPERCHEAP AUTOS PROMISES TO PULL OFFENSIVE ADVERTISEMENT AFTER PRESSURE FROM MOTORCYCLISTS
The Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC of NSW) welcomes the decision by Supercheap Auto to suspend indefinitely the showing of a television commercial that shows a car driver deliberately opening a door on a passing motorcyclist.
The commercial, which shows a rider performing a manoeuvre known as “filtering”, between stationary cars has outraged the motorcycle community, who saw the ad advocating vigilante-style assaults on motorcyclists by car drivers.
Chairman of the Motorcycle Council of NSW, Rob Colligan said: “As Motorcycle Awareness Week ended, riders found themselves and their families confronted by a TV commercial that said it was okay for car drivers to cause deliberate and massive injuries to riders.”
Filtering is a manoeuvre that significantly lessens traffic congestion and benefits both the rider and car drivers because it removes motorcycle and scooter riders from the chance of being rear-ended and puts them in a safer position.
Filtering by motorcycles and scooters means less congestion on our roads and in reaction to the commercial which suggested that the act of filtering is dangerous, Colligan stated: “I am not aware of any riders suffering any injuries from the act of filtering and as far as the Motorcycle Council of NSW is concerned this action is one of the safest on the road.”
Colligan also said that in a recent meeting with the Roads Minister, David Borger, the filtering issue was discussed and the Minister was positively interested to hear that in the UK a rider must filter when doing their riding test or they fail the test for being unsafe.
Colligan also called on Mr Borger to announce a trial of marked areas at the front of certain intersections in Sydney to allow riders to filter to a safe position at traffic lights, so that riders can demonstrate how this action benefits traffic flow and reduces congestion.
The damage by the misguided Supercheap Auto advertisement to the entire positive message of personal responsibility during Motorcycle Awareness week has been substantial and it has only served to reinforce the lack of respect, commonsense and decency so evident on the roads of NSW.
Colligan said “The MCC of NSW would welcome an approach from Supercheap Auto to discuss how this can be rectified.”
For more information about motorcycling in NSW please contact the Chairman of the Motorcycle Council of NSW, Rob Colligan on 0401227731 or email
chairman@mccofnsw.org.au
THE MCC of NSW
United we ride - Divided we walk
That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba.... Hunter S. Thompson.