New road safety measures

[Kickaha]

It is a lost cause. Those that participate in IAM style training courses are generally speaking old cantankerous bastards

Sounds like you'd be perfect for it

[p.dath]

No it won't. They still won't see you, they'll still pull out of intersections without looking, drunk, with headlights off at 9:30pm, they'll still back out of driveways without looking, they'll still change lanes without looking, they'll still regard the centre line as optional, they'll still let teenagers in the throes of massive brain development drive cars, they'll still think that opening car doors on lane splitting bikes is acceptable, farmers will still let stock wander unsupervised and drive combine harvesters onto the road without looking, truck drivers will still spread effluent and diesel, old people who struggle to see to the end of their 3 metre driveway will still be allowed licenses, and roads will still be left to rot until they're poorly repaired.
...

All good comments, but none of them negate my statement:

Making motorcycle riders better will result in them being involved in less accidents.

What your describing is related to multi-vehicle accidents. The biggest class of accidents involve a single rider - especially "loss of control on a corner". Hard to blame anyone else but ourselves for these accidents.

[MSTRS:Me]

...- especially "loss of control on a corner". Hard to blame anyone else but ourselves for these accidents.

Shhh! You'll wake Katman. And the punters do so hate his inconvenient truth/s.

[scumdog]

All good comments, but none of them negate my statement:



What your describing is related to multi-vehicle accidents. The biggest class of accidents involve a single rider - especially "loss of control on a corner". Hard to blame anyone else but ourselves for these accidents.

Yup, my experience too

MOST bins seem to involve a rider 'somehow' running out of road.

SOMETIMES there's an oncoming car involved but often as not there isn't and the bike cart-wheels off the on wrong side of the road.

[MSTRS:Me]

Those pesky corners. Always placed where a rider least expects one to be.
Best remove the lot (the corners, that is).

[MrKiwi]

Those pesky corners. Always placed where a rider least expects one to be.
Best remove the lot (the corners, that is).

then there would be a lot of cheap motorbikes for sale...

[Max Preload]

Bring on 10 year retesting for everyone

Amen to that.

[MrKiwi]

10 year retesting for everyone? That sure would make us know the rules and be assessed on our driving/riding capabilities, but my guess is that it would not necessarily lead to safer roads. We humans are very good at doing what is right when we need to, ie to pass a test, but when we don't need to we revert.

Interesting thought though, ten year retesting that is.

[p.dath]

10 year retesting for everyone? That sure would make us know the rules and be assessed on our driving/riding capabilities, but my guess is that it would not necessarily lead to safer roads. We humans are very good at doing what is right when we need to, ie to pass a test, but when we don't need to we revert.

Interesting thought though, ten year retesting that is.

I have considered the concept of re-testing in the past. It would help make sure everyone met the academic requirement (as in, knew the current rules), but the practical test only measures an experienced rider/driver against a basic skills criteria.

I would be more in favour of *voluntary* advanced driver training with an officially recognised certificate, and make that voluntary qualification time limited. This is more like the IAM system in the UK. Something that is not straight forward, and takes 6 to 8 weeks to get, like the IAM course.
It is likely that very companies (such as insurance, employers of professional riders/drivers) would come to recognise such a qualification, thereby making people want to get it.

I would prefer a system that inspired people to improve their driver/riding training, rather than forced them to do it.

I would also like to see an avenue for the courts to order "drive education" instead of trying to fine a problem out of existence, and such a qualification would provide the courts with this avenue.

[Blackbird]

This is more like the IAM system in the UK. Something that is not straight forward, and takes 6 to 8 weeks to get, like the IAM course.
It is likely that very companies (such as insurance, employers of professional riders/drivers) would come to recognise such a qualification, thereby making people want to get it.

I'm part-way through IAM observer training here and it's anything but straightforward . Did you actually mean 6-8 weeks? It generally takes a minimum time of 6 months and up to 2 years before you're ready for the final qualification test. I've got my second check ride by a qualified observer coming up shortly. I understand that IAM UK will shortly be introducing a graded system like RoSPA which might have much wider appeal to riders. Guess it will find its way here soon.

Got to agree with you that a reduction in insurance premiums for passing professional roadcraft training would be a great incentive. Maybe that will eventually flow on from the UK too.

[oneofsix]

A retest of some sort when you renew your licence plus p.dath's voluntary scheme (actually for a Cisco engineer he talks some sense, must be time for another Gin). With the ten year five question test, it only has to be a brief sample to get people to ensure they are aware of the rules.
Actually I would prefer a quick virtual drive that tests the common mistakes like round abouts. Then there are no excuses for not knowing the rules, virtual drives are quick and easy to set up and no 'sorry you have to rebook cause I don't like the look of your vehicle' and it more tests what they would do rather than what is the correct answer. With modern tech it could be quick and easily set-up with one terminal at each testing station, providing its only used for licence renewal one would be enough.