Scooter News NSW motorcycle safety needs a second look Motorcyclists Announce Road Safety Strategic Plan
Motorcycle Council of NSW Five years on, the Motorcycle Council of NSW 'Positioned for Safety' Road Safety Strategic Plan has achieved 75 per cent of its 91 objectives - an outstanding achievement by a community group funded entirely by volunteers. Following this success, Motorcycle Awareness Week 2007 will see the launch of the second edition of 'Positioned for Safety', which sets out a new strategy and a number of objectives for 2007-2010.
"This is a critical development given that motorcyclists are no longer a niche group but the fastest growing road users in NSW" said Guy Stanford, Chairman, Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCCofNSW). The number of motorcycle and scooter riders in NSW is increasing year on year according to figures provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) today. In comparison to the same period last year, January to September, 250cc motorcycles rose by 46.2% and overall road bike sales (including scooters) rose in NSW by 22.3%.
The central objective of Positioned for Safety 2010 is to further reduce death and injury among motorcyclists through four strategies:
SAFER ROADS - improved road environment;
SAFER PEOPLE -improved road user behaviour;
SAFER VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT - design aggressivity of other vehicles; protective clothing;
CO-ORDINATION, COMMUNICATION AND POLICY - more meaningful government involvement.
"Until 'Positioned for Safety', motorcycle safety was a crucial issue that was either ignored or misunderstood", said Liz de Rome, Road Safety Consultant, LDER Consulting. "Now, despite a 63% increase in motorcycle numbers since 1995, crash rates are down by 32% and fatalities down by 36%. Safety publicity has obviously registered with riders and motorists and improved communications have led to a better understanding of motorcycle safety issues by government agencies. Reliable data on motorcycle crashes is now available, providing a credible basis for the MCC of NSW to develop effective input into policy."
Before the launch of the initial 'Positioned for Safety' plan in 2002 motorcycle casualties were on the increase and in the official OECD ranking, Australia were the ninth worst for motorcycle safety. In addition:
There were no existing behavioural programs in place to improve motorcycle safety;
There was no recognition of the motorcycle hazards inherent in some road design features; and
Motorcycle safety not identified in the NSW state road safety strategy, Road Safety 2010.
Five years after the launch of 'Positioned for Safety' there has been a noticeable improvement in community awareness with the implementation of a NSW Motorcycle Safety awareness advertising campaign as well as advisory road signs and billboards at major NSW crash site routes. There have also been significant improvements in awareness amongst riders including:
MCC Road Safety Website which now attracts over 7,000 visitors per month
User's Guide to Motorcycle Protective Clothing
State-funded safety campaigns targeted at riders and other motorists
73 per cent of NSW local councils now have motorcycle safety programs
"While there is still much to do, motorcycle safety is now firmly on the road safety agenda in NSW" said Mr Stanford. "There has been slower progress with transport and infrastructure planners, but we hope through this process to establish more productive and informed relationships between the road safety profession and motorcyclists across the state."
About the Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC) & Motorcycle Awareness Week 2007
The Motorcycle Council of NSW is an internationally recognised umbrella group for motorcycle clubs, associations and ride groups in the state of NSW. Established in 1982, the MCC represents over 47 clubs, with more than 38,000 riders. Motorcycle Awareness Week 2007 runs from October 26 to November 4. Download a copy of the full 'Positioned for Safety 2010' Strategic Plan at www.mccofnsw.org.au .
published 2/11/2007 |