President of the Motorcycle Riders Association (Vic), John Karmouche, today claimed that roadside barriers on EastLink did not meet VicRoads standards and were a major danger to motorcyclists.
“While the posts on normal wire rope barriers are inherently unsafe, the posts used on EastLink are far worse than usual”.
“VicRoads standards call for the posts to be at least capped. These posts are uncapped, are open and square at the top and are appreciably more aggressive than other posts used on Victorian Roads. The ends are protected by a H beam structure which appears to be particularly dangerous”.
“This has been brought to the attention of VicRoads who have stated that while they will follow up on this matter, as a private road it is ultimately the responsibility of Connect East”.
President of the Motorcycle Riders Association (Vic), John Karmouche, today welcomed the announcement from the Federation of European Motorcyclists that Europe will be developing a new CEN standard for roadside guardrails that will improve the standard of safety barriers to reduce injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists.
“We are calling for immediate assurance from the Minister for Roads and Ports that VicRoads and other agencies will adopt this standard as soon as it is available. Motorcyclists will not accept any excuses for installing non-conforming barriers that risk lives”.
Europe has decided to develop a European Standard, which reduces the impact severity of motorcyclist collisions with safety barriers.
In other words we will (eventually) have a definite standard of safety barrier to push for when they are installed on new roads...
This is excellent news.
PRESS RELEASE
16 June 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
[b]Guardrails: great victory for motorcyclists worldwide![b]
On June 13th, CEN members voted a work item to improve the standard of safety barriers to take motorcyclists into account and reduce injuries and fatalities. This is a clear milestone for motorcyclists' 20-year-long fight for their safety. The best birthday present FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) could dream of for its 20th anniversary!
In Milan, last Friday, members of the Technical Committee on Road Equipment (TC226) adopted resolution 319 registering a new item in their work programme to "develop a European Standard, which reduces the impact severity of motorcyclist collisions with safety barriers, considering the existing national standards and the possibilities of present day technologies". In concrete terms, a new part (8th) is to be added to the existing standard EN1317. It will contain "provisions for the evaluation of the performance of safety barriers under impact by a powered two-wheeled vehicle (PTW) rider sliding along the ground".
FEMA has been campaigning for nearly 20 years to have the problem of motorcyclists impacting, colliding or simply sliding on a road and not being protected by traditional "road restraint systems" addressed. Numerous demonstrations and awareness campaigns have been organised at national and EU levels. These generated different degrees of reactions from road authorities. Many of them refused to install anything else other than the prescribed EN1317 standard, which had so far been designed and tested to protect all categories of vehicles except for motorcycles. Some countries, like Spain, worked at developing their own national standard, while Portugal mandates by law the installation of motorcyclist protective devices on the Portuguese road network.
Aline Delhaye, FEMA's General Secretary, says "With road safety being at the top of all road authorities' agendas, the CEN decision is giving a clear signal that motorcyclists' needs and characteristics have to be taken into account to improve their safety. With this new part 8 to EN1317, soon to be agreed upon, road authorities throughout Europe will now have no excuse not to install motorcyclist protective devices where necessary to avoid motorcyclists from being killed or injured when they impact the supporting poles of safety barriers. What a great reward for FEMA at a time where it celebrates 20 years of riders' representation in Europe!"
According to CEN timeframe, a draft standard should be ready by next year and adopted after internal procedure by October 2010. FEMA will ensure that this is respected as closely as possible.
END
Resolution 319: Road restraint systems - Part 8: Motorcycle road restraint systems which reduce the impact severity of motorcyclist collisions with safety barriers
The scope of this work item is to develop a European Standard which reduces the impact severity of motorcyclist collisions with safety barriers considering the existing national standards and the possibilities of present day technology.
· This work item contains provisions for the evaluation of the performance of safety barriers under impact by a powered two-wheeled vehicle (PTW) rider sliding along the ground. At the present time it does not cover RRS other than safety barriers.
· Initially, the issue of motorcyclists sliding along the ground and impacting a barrier will be addressed (because currently there is more experience of this configuration). Other types of impact and other types of RRS will be considered as a second step.
· The resulting test procedure shall be read and used together with the existing parts of EN 1317.
· It provides additional testing procedures and acceptance criteria, besides the mandatory requirement of EN 1317-2, to demonstrate an RRS product's performance under impact by a motorcyclist's body"
Media Release from the Minister's Office.
Wednesday, 4 June, 2008
NEW LICENSING REGULATIONS MAKE LEARNING TO RIDE SAFER
New regulations for Learner and Probationary motorcyclists are to come into effect on 1 July under the Brumby Government’s new Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS).
Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports, Martin Pakula said the introduction of LAMS in Victoria will contribute to a more consistent approach to vehicle restrictions for learner and newly licensed riders.
“Under LAMS, learner and novice riders will have access to a range of motorcycles and scooters suitable for their level of experience,” Mr Pakula said.
“Novice riders will only be permitted to ride motorcycles on the approved LAMS list which includes bikes with power-to-weight ratios not exceeding 150 kilowatts per tonne and engine capacities not exceeding 660cc.
“The scheme will also restrict learners from using high powered, race replica 250cc bikes that are known to be dangerous for inexperienced riders.”
A list of acceptable motorcycle and scooter models that can be used by learner and novice riders is available on the VicRoads website and will be updated as suitable new models come onto the market.
Mr Pakula said the list of motorcycle and scooter models will keep new riders informed about which bikes they can ride.
“The expanded range will include bikes with better handling characteristics and some with advanced safety features like ABS and combined braking systems,” Mr Pakula said.
“The new scheme, funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy, provides a wider range of bikes for new riders to choose from based on bike performance and safety.
“The Motorcycle Safety Levy is essential to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and injured each year.
“The Brumby Government continually works with the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council to direct funds raised through the Motorcycle Safety Levy back to a wide range of initiatives to improve motorcycle safety.”
Mr Neil O’Keefe, Chair of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council, welcomed the new scheme.
"I have been concerned that some new riders avoid practising on the smaller bikes and ride very powerful models before they are ready. LAMS provide much safer options for these riders,” Mr O’Keefe said.
A list of approved motorcycles and scooters is available on the VicRoads website - www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/LAMS
High petrol prices fuel case for two-wheeled transport
Because of the increasingly high price of petrol, increasing numbers of motorists and commuters are shunning the car in favour of alternative modes of transport.
VACC is calling for the Government (State and Federal) to recognise this shift in vehicle choice for everyday commuting.
“With rampant petrol pump prices, it is now apparent that there are fewer cars on the daily commute to work. This presents an opportunity for the Government to acknowledge the role motorbikes and scooters can play in reducing congestion and vehicle emissions, and also in reducing petrol costs for families and commuters,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.
“Scooter sales were up 40% last year and they are here to stay. That is a simple and inescapable fact. But the infrastructure for two-wheeled vehicles is not up to scratch. The Government needs to make fundamental improvements to our roads and form an integrated transport policy to incorporate motorbikes, scooters and push bikes.
“As well as being less expensive to buy and run compared to cars, two-wheeled vehicles are more environmentally friendly, they reduce congestion on the roads and they reduce pressure on parking spaces.
“VACC recommends policy initiatives for new road sharing practices to tackle safety issues. In order to encourage more people to take up these alternative modes of private transport, the Government must do all it can to make the vehicles and the roads safer. More than 80% of motorcycle crashes involve other vehicles hitting them from behind or failing to give way to motorcyclists at intersections. Cars, and poor driver practices, pose the greatest risk to scooter riders, motorcyclists, and bicyclists, all of whom are vulnerable road users.”
Here are four VACC initiatives to make scooter and motorcycle riding safer:
Establish designated and signed “Safe Routes” with improved traffic management features for two-wheeled transport
Establish safety boxes for motorcycle and scooter riders at the head of busy intersections
Allow access by scooter riders to certain, designated bicycle lanes on roads where such sharing can be achieved safely (many electric and smaller scooters travel at bicycle speeds or less)
Allow boxed turns, utilising safety boxes, on certain busy intersections for scooter riders (to avoid having them standing unprotected in the middle of passing lanes)
“Both Labor and the Coalition appear to be confused over their best policy on tackling the rapidly rising petrol prices. But there is a golden opportunity staring politicians in the face in promoting the environmental and economic merits of two-wheeled transport.
“It has worked in Rome, Paris, London, Stockholm and Tokyo – why can’t it work in Australian cities?” Mr Purchase said.
President of the Motorcycle Riders Association (Vic), John Karmouche, today issued a challenge to ConnectEast to justify its motorcycle tolls on the EastLink tollway.
He observed that toll roads are designed to counter problems with traffic flow and congestion. “Motorcycles and scooters are part of the solution here – not the problem”.
Motorbike safety consultation paper
Motorbike safety is a significant road safety issue in Queensland. Queensland Transport is committed to improving the safety of motorbike riders on Queensland's roads.
Peter Rolfe, State political reporter HeraldSun
May 18, 2008
Motorcyclists will pay $5 for a return trip on the $2.5 billion road in a move that has shocked and angered riders.
Until now, motorbikes have been allowed on tollways such as CityLink free of charge because of difficulties photographing rear number plates and fitting electronic tags to the bikes.
In the lead up to the Moto GP last year the TAC ran a Hints and Tips competition, filmed the tips and now you can view the clips online.
One on the winners was the MRA's very own DJ McCarthy.
You can view all the clips Here
A milestone for motorcycle safety, said FEMA President Hans Petter Strifeldt as he officially opened the World’s First Vision Zero Road for motorcycles along RV 32 in Telemark County in Norway 7 May 2008.
