An encouraging 14.1 per cent decrease over the last 12 months, with all demographics improving except for the 40-59yrs group

Australia's rolling 12-month motorcycle road toll was down by 14.1 per cent at the end of May, according to statistics released by the federal government.

VACC, the peak Automotive Industry body in Victoria, has backed the introduction of a new on-road coaching trial for novice motorcycle riders.

‘VicRide’, launched by the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, aims to find new ways of improving rider skills and ultimately cutting road trauma.

Media Release June 23rd 2010 – Motorcycle training initiative sabotaged.




Representatives from the MRAV were in attendance this morning at the launch of the VicRoads Assisted Ride program by the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas. This program initiated by the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC), and funded from the motorcycle “safety” levy, will invite 2400 probationary riders to participate in on road coaching training. The program is part of major research aimed at providing evidence that training and education can make a difference to the motorcycle road toll.

Active sabotage of a major project.
At the same time, Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Ken Lay (a member of the VMAC), joined Neil Mitchell renewing a call for front number plates for motorcycles. Evidence shows that .03% of motorcyclists were avoiding camera detection several years ago – exactly the same proportion as that of other motorists avoiding detection through dirty, obscured or false front number plates. No other jurisdiction in the developed world has seen this as an essential safety measure related to motorcycling. The proposal was put forward and dropped some years ago as being both unnecessary and virtually impossible to carry out. Photographs Ken provided to the media from the Traffic Camera Office showed supposed “hoon riders”. What Mr Lay suspiciously failed to inform the media is that some of these photos were not taken this year.

3AW’s well documented anti-motorcycle bias proved the perfect platform not only to raise the issue of front number plates again but provided the opportunity to disrupt the launch of an important motorcycle program.

Representatives from the MRAV were in attendance this morning at the launch of the VicRoads Assisted Ride program by the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas. This program created by the VMAC will invite 2400 probationary riders to participate in on road coaching training and provide evidence that training and education make a difference to the risks on the road.

What can't police catch motorcycle hoons? Victoria's top road cop Ken Lay explains to Radio 3AW's Neil Mitchell and throws down a challenge.

Hooning motorcyclists are having a devastating impact on Victoria's road toll which is heading for its worst result in five years, the state's top traffic policeman says.

The latest figures reveal that one fifth of the 160 deaths on the state's roads this year involve motorcyclists, the latest occurring on Friday morning when a rider hit a parked truck in Melbourne's west.

ED - isn't that a dirt bike? Surely not representative of all riders, it doesn't even have a registration!

STUPIDITY has been blamed for the high number of bikers being killed on Victorian roads.

Top road cop Ken Lay has slammed the behaviour of some motorcyclists for driving up Victoria’s soaring road toll.

“In reality, nearly all of our increase in deaths are the result of motorcycle crashes,” Mr Lay said today.

The MRA(Vic) calls for the State government to look seriously at the entire proposal made by Mark Skaife on the 13th June Sunday Night segment on the Seven network and not separate individual aspects from it.

The MRA(Vic) has for a long time supported the concept of improving driver and rider education and concurs with Mr.Skaife’s recommendations as a major part of a long term solution. The majority of collisions and crashes occur because of simple mistakes people make, demonstrating a lack of driving/riding skill and poor judgment.

Examining successful systems used in other countries, as observed by Mr. Skaife, is fundamental to changes required by the government to reduce Victoria’s road toll and is supported by MRA(Vic).

New Zealand

Some Nelson motorcyclists say they are "disgusted" by a 100-day police campaign to target riders even if they are not doing anything wrong.

The campaign is a result of a large number of motorcycle crash fatalities in the Tasman police district over the past nine months.

Police demonstrate motorcycle noise tests



Police demonstrated Thursday how they will test noisy motorcycles once a new bylaw amendment comes into effect. (CBC)

Edmonton police will use a sound meter and a measuring tape to enforce a new bylaw amendment recently passed by city council to crack down on excessively noisy motorcycles.

A MOTORCYCLIST carrying a pillion passenger has been clocked doing 178km/h on the Hume Freeway at Benalla, in Victoria's northeast.

V8 Supercar driver Mark Skaife believes parents and driving lessons should never mix

PARENTS should be barred from teaching their children to drive, as a key to improving road safety in Australia.

The family ban is part of a package proposed by Mark Skaife, who intends to turn his retirement from full-time V8 Supercar racing into a career as a safety campaigner.

Skaife has been a driver trainer for more than 15 years and a safety advocate through the Advertiser's sister newspaper, the Herald Sun in Melbourne, for more than 10, but found himself in the spotlight this week when he proposed a major safety review.

Chairman’s communiqué from 20 May 2010 meeting

VMAC was pleased to welcome Don Nardella, Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports, to the May meeting. Don was briefed on a number of projects currently being delivered under Victoria’s Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013. Peter Schofield, Nicola Fotheringham and Chris Brennan from VicRoads were also in attendance to present papers, as was Christine Mulvihill from Monash University Accident Research Centre, Superintendant Kevin Casey from Victoria Police and John Thomson from the TAC.

VICTORIA'S top traffic cop concedes the state has a long way to go to match European driver training as he backed the Premier's refusal to adopt Mark Skaife's proposal to raise speed limits.



Increase the limit: Mark Skaife wants an overhaul of Victorian road laws. Picture: Scott Barbour Source: Getty Images

Skaife's call to raise speed limits to 140km/h on Victorian freeways has sparked a war of words between the car-racing champ and Premier John Brumby.

THE biggest fear with Mark Skaife's call to raise speed limits on open highways to 130 or 140km/h is that irresponsible motorists will interpret it as validation for excessive driving habits.

Some of Skaife's more realistic observations - such as the need for better driver education and more diligence in roadworthy checks - will be lost in a cloud of exhaust smoke because hoon drivers have one-track minds, and that is to go as fast along that track as they can.

A major review of motorcycle testing and training was announced this week following a searing attack on the Government's handling of the "fiasco" earlier this year.



Review aims to resolve confusion over motorcycle licences Photo: Jeff Gilbert

PLYMOUTH — Every summer, bikers roar into Plymouth’s downtown and waterfront, straddling sleek, chromed-out variations of the classic Harley-Davidson. Garbed in leather jackets, fingerless gloves, chaps, and heavy boots, the bikers flock to Plymouth for the attractions of the coast and the camaraderie they find when large numbers of them gather in the same place. On a typical summer night, dozens of bikes line the sidewalks on Main Street and the waterfront.

An Edmonton bylaw has captured the interest of municipalities and people across the country who loathe the persistent rumbles and thunderclap starts of motorcycles on their roads.

Winter Rates for June, July and August

TRADE Prices deduct 7% from Rates below.

For the period of June, July and August we are offering our Special Winter Rates.

Collection and or deliver Monday to Friday = 0730 to 1700 hrs.
30 kilometre radius from Melbourne CBD. = $83.00 ( One way ) TRADE = $77.00

Return to collection point = $150.00
All prices are gst inclusive.

Motorists flouting the road rules this long weekend won't only have police to contend with.

For the first time, VicRoads officers also will be booking drivers in a bid to halt the state's soaring road toll, which rose to 144 yesterday with the deaths of three men in a truck smash.

V8 Supercar driver and reigning Bathurst champion Will Davison will join Victoria Police, the TAC and VicRoads today for the launch of an aggressive road policing operation in time for the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

Starting tomorrow, Victoria Police will run Operation Aegis VIII, which will see police cars and motorbikes, bicycles and foot patrols smother the state's roads in an attempt to reduce road trauma