Drivers the real killers, riders say
By FRANCES STEWART
SPEED is not killing motorcyclists on Canberra’s roads – bad habits by car and truck drivers are the real killers, Motorcycle Riders Association ACT said. Motorcycle Riders Association spokesman Peter Major said the focus on speeding by the ACT Government was misplaced, with inattentive drivers running motorcyclists off Canberra’s roads, causing accidents and costing motorbike riders their lives.
“There’s been this demonization of speed by the Government.” Mr Major said.
“Speed does not kill. What kills people is crashes and people cause crashes.”
“All speed does is determine
how bad the crash will be,” Mr Major said rather than being caused by speed, the recent spate of motorcycle crashes in the ACT highlighted a lack of attention by drivers who simply don’t see motorcyclists.
“What really scares me is people not looking where they’re going,” he said, “There’s so many rider, driver, and pedestrian distractions. People are just not seeing the smaller vehicles.
“We simply cannot stand by and be ignored by other road users.”
This year, four motorcycle riders have been killed in accidents in the ACT and several other Canberra riders have died in accidents in surrounding areas of NSW.
In the past week. Mr Major said he had been nearly run off the road by a truck and a friend had broken his collarbone when run off the road by an inconsiderate driver.
He said recent incidents such as the serious injuries sustained by a motorcycle rider and his pregnant pillion passenger when they were run off the road by a hit-and-run driver at Page on June 18 – indicated the low level of driver awareness in the ACT.
“It’s at a point now where it’s just getting ridiculous,” Mr Major said.
“We are getting a lot of near misses like the one at Page.
“We are outraged that a driver, after causing a serious crash, simply drove away, and we call upon the whole ACT community to look out for motorcyclists – be aware and alert.”
Mr Major said other fatal motorcycle accidents, such as the death of a 23-year-old rider hit by car turning right from Florey Drive on to Southern Cross Drive, Macgregor, on April 18, showed ACT drivers did not understand how to give way to motorbikes at T-intersections.
“Often people don’t realise that motorbikes can move very quickly,” he said.
“They’re not giving them enough s pace when they see that single headlight coming – they think it’s a slow, old car with a light out.
“Then all of a sudden its right there in front of them and there’s an accident.”
Mr Major called on the Government to provide better driver education by focusing on safety rather than targeting speed limits.
“We’ve dropped the ball on road safety education,” he said.
“The posted limit’s not the minimum speed; it’s the maximum speed that you could go on that road in good conditions.
“While road rules are nice, they won’t keep you alive.”
A spokeswoman for Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said speed management was just one element of the road safety initiatives managed by the ACT Government.
” The Government recently ran a television campaign to help highlight the consequences of driver distraction, particularly when using a mobile phone while driving,” she said.
“The road safety campaign aimed to remind motorists that distractions are dangerous and can have tragic consequences.
“A new campaign encouraging motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to share the road will be launched later this year.”
Although the ACT is facing a horrible year for crash deaths, long-term figures show a falling trend in motorcycle-related deaths in the national capital.
Having just come back from Greece recently I was amazed at the number of scooters and bikes in Athens. The important thing was that scooters were everywhere in and out of traffic and all of them were older machines which did not appear to have any damage. The cars there were much more careful of this intrusion into their space and acted more responsibly. Possibly if motorist were made aware that hitting a motorbike got them a serious fine plus a suspension maybe it would make a difference.
That said Neal, while correct, the amount of drivers I see every morning and evening either on their phones or txting is amazing. You sit back and wonder, “Is this driver drunk?” and then you see the phone up to their ear or the driver looking down into their lap while the car crosses the lane lines and then jerks back in correction. Tradies seem to be the worst offenders I’ve seen over the winter period.
Driver inattention is scary on Canberra roads, and it’s good not to perpetuate the opposite myth that the rider is always to blame.
Collisions between 2 vehicles are the result of mistakes made by both vehicle operators. To totally blame car drivers for collisions involving them and motorcyclists perpetuates the myth in the motorcycling world that it’s “all the car driver’s fault”. Riders have to face the basic fact that they have to totally observe the traffic flow and look after their own safety. What were you and the other riders you mention observing before your incidents?
The scenario for motorcyclists is much the same Australai wide, the various state lobby groups are doing what they can to raise awareness, it’s time the various governemnts in this country recognised that motorcycles are an environmentally and economically viable alternative to car transport and catered for them accordingly.
Make motorcycle awareness part of a mandatory car license test, put ads on TV alerting car drivers to the fact we move differently to a car and indeed are more fragile than a car. Remember the person riding that motorbike is someone’s son or daughter, it could be yours!
These and many other things could be done to help the lot of the average motorcyclist and bring the road toll down as well. It’s time the various goverments started to consult with motorcyclists rather than closing their eyes hoping they go away.