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Small not safer

Mark Hinchliffe

August 02, 2006 12:00am
Article from: The Courier-Mail

MOTORCYCLE riders have told an inquiry into reducing road deaths that smaller, less powerful engines are not the answer.
The Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee's inquiry program has received 53 submissions with groups including the Ulysses mature-aged rider club, Motorcycle Riders Association of Queensland and Q-Ride trainers rejecting engine restriction.

Their response is after calls in Queensland and interstate for restrictions in the size of car engines for young drivers as a means to address high youth crash rates.

Last year, 64 riders died on Queensland roads, accounting for 20 per cent of all road fatalities despite motorcycles representing only 3 per cent of registered vehicles.

Travelsafe chair Jim Pearce said a public hearing into Q-Ride would be held on August 11 because of "a number of concerns with regard to the perceived easy access to a licence".

The Q-Ride system allows riders access to any size bike after competency-based licensing.

The Q-Ride hearing comes as road bike sales in the first half of 2006 are up 31.5 per cent compared with the first half of 2005.

"Q-Ride is fundamentally a good program but it needs to be cleaned up," Mr Pearce said.

However, he is not an advocate of either competency-based training or riding a motorcycle.

"I personally don't like competency-based training . . . just because I am competent on doing the things required to get a licence doesn't mean I have the competency to ride on the road. But I won't let that influence my thinking," he said.

Mr Pearce said he did not have a motorcycle licence.

"I would never get on a motorbike again. I had a pretty scary experience as a young fellow on a bike and decided I would never ride a bike again," he said.

Among the submissions, the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland: expressed concern that competency-based training gave riders a false confidence in their abilities. CARRS-Q recommended more training on attitudinal and motivational factors rather than handling a bike.

Transport Minister Paul Lucas said Queensland Transport might investigate licensing changes, learner logbook requirements, compulsory protective clothing, programs for returned riders, black spot programs and interstate initiatives.

The committee's report is to be delivered in November.

It never ceases to amaze me the young blokes on the new thous with NO experience whatsoever other than on a go kart track on a 250 commuter.
One wonders how those Q-Ride guys sleep at night....

However, he is not an advocate of either competency-based training or riding a motorcycle.

Oh yes, very unbiased I'm sure...

"I would never get on a motorbike again. I had a pretty scary experience as a young fellow on a bike and decided I would never ride a bike again," he said.

probably because he thought he had the skills to ride a big bike, but couldn't.

Does anybody else see how this comment illustrates the need for competency- based training and engine restriction, rather than argue against it

I believe that what the enquiry should be looking into is independent operators running Q-Ride courses and increased roadcraft before licencing. Currently, although there are some independent operators, the motorcycle sales chains, such as Pro & Team Moto, are the known names in training. A potential rider goes to the shops, and sees a big sign propped up beside the latest greatest road rocket, saying "do Q-Ride today, own this tomorrow!" Also, when doing Q-Ride, all the competencies are done in the carpark, then a 30 min road test is done, and then the licences are handed out. So, a person brand new to riding, who as never ridden anything more dangerous than a bicycle, has a licence to ride anything, anywhere. This needs to be addressed, moreso than restricing engine size.

I agree with esie - QRide is a good program (although I would probably prefer QRide with a LAMS type restriction for a year - but maybe allow up to something like an SV650/ER6 type of bike). But individual operators can suck beyond belief.

I'm almost tempted to say nowhere associated with a dealership should be allowed to run courses (seems like a conflict of interest to me!) but that seems harsh. And places like Morgan & Wacker have an incredibly good reputation... So maybe that's not such a great idea!

Danny