The Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety is timely having been completed following a period of record growth in motorcycle use in Victoria. That growth and the inherent vulnerability of motorcyclists requires a higher level of engagement on motorcycle safety issues from government, road safety agencies, and motorcyclists themselves. The growth in motorcycle use will, arguably, continue over the next decade. The extent of that growth while difficult to judge, will present challenges. These challenges will be in the form of greater use of public infrastructure, more extensive interaction between different road users, and potentially, increases in trauma. The growth of motorcycling also means that we need improved and new approaches to motorcycling safety over the next decade. But action on motorcycle safety needs to be tailored to Victorian conditions and Victorian riders. Our motorcycling culture, shaped by rural, social, recreational and commuter influences differs substantially from that in other countries and jurisdictions. That difference was most apparent when discussing off-road riding with road safety experts in northern Europe. It became clear that riding through the bush for recreation is distinctively Australian, distinctively Victorian. That is but one example of the differences between our motorcycling culture and use and those in other places. That of course, does not mean we cannot borrow good ideas from elsewhere; but those ideas need to be altered to ensure they can work here. This report includes an extensive number of findings and recommendations. One of the most important areas we need to focus more on is the collection, use and sharing of crash and trauma data, ensuring that road safety agencies meet their road safety responsibilities, working collaboratively with the community, and focusing on the idea that road safety is a shared responsibility. Although much of the report is focused on improving, clarifying and adding to existing motorcycle safety measures, there are also significant opportunities to improve safety by harnessing new technologies. The next decade of motorcycle safety will draw more heavily on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and their associated technologies. The scope of work being undertaken in the proving grounds of Europe by the European Commission and individual countries, in designing, trialling and implementing these systems is significant. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting