Motorcycle fatalities down in Australia

[scumdog]

Rastuscat is completely correct in his observation that many "new" riders are hopping on Harleys and other large cruisers that will not be LAMS approved.

So LAMS wont help these guys who feature highly in our crash stats.

I'm sorry - I was unaware that the new, unlicenced Harley riders 'featured high on our crash stats'

My personal experience differs, maybe it's a geographical thing.

Have you any figures to back up the claim??

[FJRider]

... maybe it's a geographical thing.

it is ... he's in la la land ...

[scracha]

Just ended up on this incredible thread when searching for something else. The incredible thing about this thread is that a major transport body would ask P.dath what he thought was the cause of the reduced accidents!? Don't get me wrong I have know p.dath and he is smarter than 99 out of 100 people. But he is not a traffic safety researcher. It just shows how clueless the AA is.

That being said, now that the fact that the AA has done this is out in the open, it practically begs BRONZ / MAG / etc to write an open letter(s) to the AA asking them why the hell they asked P.Dath instead of the aforementioned organisations.

[FastBikeGear]

Training is a valuable way of "fast tracking" experience.

The catch is, if we make the training compulsory before getting a licence, many just wont bother.

We will end up with less motorcyclists which marginalizes us even more.

And more of those riding simply will ride without the correct class of licence.

Realistically, the basic handing skills course, is a good start.

But IMHO the best way to go is to have a look at what people are actually doing, and provide a way to make it legal and safe.

Sadly, the proposed "Learner Approved Motorcycle" program is a good start but it fails on many levels.

Rastuscat is completely correct in his observation that many "new" riders are hopping on Harleys and other large cruisers that will not be LAMS approved.

So LAMS wont help these guys who feature highly in our crash stats. They want a large cruiser, they have been driving for years and are not concerned about the chance of being caught with the wrong class of licence. Or, they simply have a spare or two in another name.

I would argue that...

We should accept that people will ride large cruisers, so we should accommodate them with training, and accelerated programs to help make them safer.

My thoughts would be :

~ You can't treat someone who has 20 years car driving experience the same as a learner driver. And they will resist being treated that way.

~ Acknowledge that the real risk for these people is not lack of road craft. Its lack of motorcycle craft, so provide accelerated training.

~ These guys crash because of basic motorcycling skill problems - running wide, too much back brake, all of which can be trained out.

~ Use technology. ABS brakes for example could allow a rider a larger machine.

~ Use the motorcycle levy to make the training free. we would get more bikers, and less crashes.

Just my two-bobs worth.

I have formed my view, as I am in the effected (afflicted ?) age group.

I have been riding my entire life, but from time to time ride with newer riders, many of whom assume that I, like them are new to biking, especially if I am on my Harley.

They offer me frequent, and usually woeful advice on braking, counter-steering, and tyre selection.

I see what is happening, and I despair, as we react with more hurdles, more penalties, and harsher rules, when generally, if we provided the mechanisms, we could train many of these accidents out of experienced drivers, who simply lack motorcycle skills.

Your well meant response illustrates why we need proper research. It's well meant opinion and conjecture but what we need is real research instead of everyone shooting from the hip at different targets.