Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland Forum

From http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/home/Safety/Road/Motorbike/Motorcycle_changes/

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY IN QUEENSLAND
__________________________________________________________________________
MOTORCYCLISTS AT RISK
Safety for motorcyclists is a serious issue and one that the Queensland Government is
committed to addressing. During 2007, there were 75 fatalities as a result of crashes
involving motorcycles within Queensland, which represents 20.8% of the Queensland road
toll. The number of motorcycle rider deaths has increased over the last decade. About half of
fatal motorcycle crashes don't involve another vehicle. Riders die on our roads from
speeding, inattention, illegal manoeuvres, alcohol and drugs.
With motorcycle usage growing in popularity (currently just under 150,000 registrations) and
motorcyclists being more vulnerable to injury than other road users, the Queensland
Government has announced a range of safety initiatives to address the unacceptably high
level of motorcycle-related crashes. The initiatives ensure greater consistency between
Queensland and other states. They also reduce risk factors such as excessively powered
motorcycles and the influence of alcohol on novice riders.
PRIORITY ACTIONS
• The Learner Assisted Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS)
The introduction of LAMS means safer bikes for novice riders and consistency across
the eastern states. LAMS will replace the previous 250mL engine capacity
requirement for RE or restricted motorcycle licence holders. It means a combined
power-to-weight ratio and engine capacity restriction will apply. This will specifically
restrict some of the 250ml motorcycles on the market that are very powerful and
unsuitable for novice riders.
The power-to-weight ratio is a comparison of the engine output to the weight of the
bike. It is a measure of the motorcycle’s performance. LAMS restricts novice riders to
motorcycles with a power-to-weight ratio that does not exceed 150kW/t and an
engine capacity that does not exceed 660mL. The LAMS approved motorcycles will
have slower acceleration than other higher performance bikes and therefore will be
safer for novice riders to handle.
A list of LAMS approved motorcycles will be available from the Queensland Transport
website www.transport.qld.gov.au closer to the implementation of LAMS on 1 July
2009.
• All motorcycle provisional licence holders must display a P plate
This brings all provisional licence holders in line to display P plates – car drivers and
motorcyclists. This will also bring Queensland in line with other states. Displaying a P
plate on motorcycles will clearly identify newly licensed riders to other road users, to
display caution and offer protection. It will also facilitate the enforcement of particular
restrictions that apply to these licence holders. A single P plate will be required at the
rear of the motorcycle only, similar to the current display requirement for L plates on
motorcycles.
• Learner riders will no longer be able to carry a pillion passenger (including
trainers)
Carrying a pillion requires greater skills than a learner rider will possess. This will
reduce the risk of injury to the learner and pillion.
• Learner, provisional and novice motorcyclists will be required to have a zero
BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)
Queensland Transport, Motorcycle Safety in Queensland, 2008
The introduction of a zero BAC will ensure consistency for motorcyclists and car
drivers in Queensland and importantly reduce the risk to novice riders who require
greater concentration than car drivers when riding. It also brings Queensland in line
with other states. Legislation amendments for this will be progressed in early 2009.
• Road maintenance and infrastructure projects
Improvements to roads and roadside infrastructure will also go a long way to
improving the safety for motorcyclists. An additional $20 million has been allocated
over the next five years for upgrades under the Department of Main Roads’ Safer
Roads Sooner Program. State-controlled roads with high motorcycle crash rates will
be prioritised and targeted for these improvements.
ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNS
Continued road safety campaigns targeting motorcycle safety will also support the
introduction of these initiatives and licensing measures. Motorcycle safety public education
campaigns have been implemented since 2006 targeting motorcyclists and other road users.
The campaigns have encouraged both to share the road safely and provide information to
riders to enhance their safety.
ROAD TOLL
Motorcyclists are four and half times more likely to be involved in a crash and thirty times
more likely to be killed in a crash than car occupants (ATSB data). During 2007, there were
75 fatalities as a result of crashes involving motorcycles within Queensland, which
represents 20.8% of the Queensland road toll. This is 14 fatalities (or 23%) greater than the
previous year and 21 fatalities (or 37.9%) greater than the previous five year average.

you gotta love the statistics, 30 times more likely to die in a crash, forgetting the hundreds of crashes every month that go unreported, but it is good to see thay are admitting that roads may have something to do with it,unfortunately they forgot driver/rider education.

A few observations;

LAMS. About time! Yes I actually agree with this. Mind you, being somewhat cynical I can't help but wonder at the timing. No sooner does the Govt change Q Ride so that folk can no longer go straight to a big bike licence then this is announced. I had a feeling this would happen when a certain unnamed American/German made bike dealer and training organisation suddenly found they had no bikes to sell to newbies. Just a coincidence I'm sure.......

P Plates. Need to watch that this is not a back door way to have a seperate bike licence, at a seperate cost. Currently when you add a class to a licence you retain the licence type. For example, if you hold an open C class and pass a HR test you get an open HR licence. Same if you add a bike class. So, if the intention here is to have ALL new riders display P plates this will require a major change to licensing legislation. It also will makes the administration of demerit points a complete nightmare. Why? If you have an open car licence you lose it at 12 points. A Provisional is lost if you score 4 points in a year. You really cannot have it both ways.

Learners should never have been able to carry passengers in my view. Nuff said.

Zero BAC. Cannot argue with this. I've had a couple of friends killed by drunk drivers when riding (they were sober). I would hope this will also apply to car drivers. Currently Zero BAC applies to Learner, P1, P2 under 25 years of age. Over 25s and open licence holders is under .05 so if you have a new car driver who is 25 or over he can have a drink. This should be stopped.

Considering that the death rate has continued to climb during the advertising campaign, it obviously does not work. Therefore why throw more money at it?


Well, thats my 2 cents worth......

but hasn't the number of people getting into bikes risen as well, stands to reason there will be more crashes, hence more fatalitys, it doesn't mean that bikes are any more dangerous than they ever were, its just the spin they put on it.

I tend to get dizzy from the spin they put on things but the main thrust of any communication with the powers that be from the friendly cop that has stopped you to admire your new sun glasses to the chance meeting with Kevin at church is that we need training facilities for all road users.
Education works better than propaganda.

"State-controlled roads with high motorcycle crash rates will
be prioritised and targeted for these improvements."

Now does that mean they are going to put a blanket lower speed limit on the road or actually do something about it?

I was listening to the ABC yesterday morning and a spokesman from the Australian Automobile Association reckoned that the state of the road was a contributing factor in over 50% of crashes. Funnily enough he said only 25% was driver cock-up. I thought it would have been the other way around.

The whole aspect of having motor vehicles under the "control" of a operator who has had at the very best, limited training, and then have these operators caring less and less about other road users, then having these vehicles pass within mere centimetres of each other and then to add all the (increasing) distractions that are inside a cars cabin, is it any wonder that there is increasing numbers or road incidents? As Crump put it to, we don't know if the numbers versus the percentages change either. One thing I do know is that statistics are NOT a very reliable value in their raw state and are manipulated by various departments within all governments. Any comments on that?

Very true. Statistics by their very nature require interpretation, and this is where one can get the desired outcome. The other thing to remember is that it is sometimes just as important what is not said (i.e. leave out the inconvenient data) in many reports.

I have been slack in reading the forums lately, but I live in the central qld area and the price of fuel up here goes up here once a mounth even if the fuel gets cheeper so people are buying bikes to ride to work to save some money for ather bills. But there are a lot of baby bomers buying them as an investement and enjoyment as well,but me I like the style and the name. ( go the callie )