Scooter News Front Number Plates Reading the paper on Sunday it was a surprise to come across an article about the introduction of front number plates to motorcycles.
Allen Drysdale
If you were reading a News Limited Paper on the weekend you may have noticed an article about the return of front number plates on motorcycles.
The article quotes that a $22 million plan is underway to fit number plates to the front of motorcycles which I am sure would include us the scooter riders as well.
A draft impact statement by Vic Roads has been obtained and it goes on to say that nationally there is a wish to implement the use of front number plates as early as 2009.
The drafts advice is that the plan would reduce motorcycle trauma by 2 to 4 percent overall.
The press article goes on to quote that Vic Roads refused to comment on the draft as it had not been made public.
Of Australia's 540,000 motorcycles (which I have not heard the word termed scooter yet)it would cost $22 million to implement of which $13 million would come from road authorities and the rest, $9 million from the riders themselves.
Watch this space as a lot of motorcycle media has been reporting on the move. The impact for scooters is that it is difficult in a lot of circumstances to fit a plate to the front much like it is with most motorcycles.
Along with this road incidents causing trauma on a scooter are far less then that of motorcycles due to speed and design.
Guy Stanford from the NSW Motorcycle Council was quoted as saying that motorcycles were internationally not designed to carry front number plates.
We certainly would be setting a precedent in the world by adopting the front number plate rule but in turn we would also be placing a great deal of pressure on an industry that is still trying to find its feet. So why Front Number Plates?
Watch this space as we discover more about the impact on scooters themselves. Its not going away......
published 11/03/2008 |