Published Monday, 10 December, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Crackdown on new motorbike riders
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, today announced a tough new motorcycle licensing regime.
"Too many motorcyclists are dying on our roads, and the State Government is determined to do its part to save lives," Mr Mickel said.
"On July 1 2008 we will introduce a graduated licensing system for all new riders including hazard perception testing for novice motorbike riders, similar to the system now in place for young drivers.
The graduated licensing system will mean novice riders will need to comply with tougher conditions and progress through the licence stages from pre-learner/learner to the provisional phase and through to an open licence.
Investigations will also be made into identifying the holders of dormant licences to address the growing number of baby boomer motorcycle riders who have not had recent experience on the roads.
Statistics show its inexperienced riders of all age groups who are adding to the unacceptable road toll.
We will also review engine capacity restrictions for new motorcycle riders.
The Minister today tabled the Government's response to a report into the Parliamentary TravelSafe committee's report into the Q-RIDE licensing system.
The purpose of the report was to investigate if the Q-RIDE training program was an effective training and assessment licensing system for motorbike riders.
Mr Mickel said of the 24 recommendations made in the report, the Government is supporting 10, partially supporting 3, and will further investigate 7. Four have not been supported.
"We are always looking at ways to improve the training motorbike riders receive," he said.
"We will also investigate options for conducting random on-site audits to ensure training continues to be of a high standard."
Mr Mickel said the government had made a commitment to continue to address motorbike rider safety and was already conducting a motorbike safety review that stemmed from the 2006 Road Safety Summit.
A number of Travelsafe recommendations have been partially supported.
"These include making changes to the Q-RIDE competency testing, improving the current system to examine Q-RIDE trainers and changing the timeframe that Q-RIDE training is delivered in."
Ten recommendations have been supported subject to further investigation, and the government intends for these to be explored as part of the larger motorbike safety review.
"This holistic review encompasses motorbike rider licensing, engineering, enforcement and education."
"Many of the issues and initiatives which were identified in Travelsafe's Report 47 Report on the Inquiry into Q-RIDE have been included in the review."
Since the Summit, Queensland Transport has already implemented two of the recommendations these are:
- regular meetings and professional development opportunities for Registered Service Providers (RSPs)
- improved training and assessment programs. It is intended that these changes will improve the quality of delivery of the Q-RIDE program.
"We must consider the implications of changes to the licensing system to ensure the changes will result in improved rider safety.
"Motorbike riding requires a different knowledge and skills to driving a car and we must ensure the changes to the licensing system helps riders learn the skills needed to travel on our roads safely.
“So far this year there have been 72 motorbike rider and pillion fatalities, compared to 52 to the same period last year.
“How many more riders and pillions will have to die before both motorists and motorbike riders take notice and change their driving and riding behaviour?
There are many riders on our roads to keep in sight with 130,855 motorbikes registered on Queensland roads (June 2007), up 17% over two years.
Mr Mickel said it was time the community played their part in reducing the road toll.
The government has already shown a track record in addressing motorbike safety with the introduction of broad-based motorbike safety initiatives, including:
- the implementation of a motorbike safety campaign in July this year which included television, radio, and outdoor advertising, a comprehensive website, and direct marketing of motorbike safety information for riders
- the introduction of new laws which require a motorbike rider to hold a provisional car licence for 12 months before gaining their learner motorbike licence, thereby providing valuable on-road experience
"We have also made a number of improvements to the Q-RIDE program; this is part of the government's ongoing commitment to improve Q-RIDE and the safety of motorbike riders.
"Mr Mickel said the whole community needs to be part of the solution to slow down and do their bit on the states roads.
"Queenslanders have told us they're concerned about road safety. Motorbike safety is extremely important, so let's see this concern converted into action."
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 10, 2007
"Too many motorcyclists are dying on our roads, and the State Government is determined to do its part to save lives," Mr Mickel said.
"On July 1 2008 we will introduce a graduated licensing system for all new riders including hazard perception testing for novice motorbike riders, similar to the system now in place for young drivers.
The graduated licensing system will mean novice riders will need to comply with tougher conditions and progress through the licence stages from pre-learner/learner to the provisional phase and through to an open licence.
Investigations will also be made into identifying the holders of dormant licences to address the growing number of baby boomer motorcycle riders who have not had recent experience on the roads.
Statistics show its inexperienced riders of all age groups who are adding to the unacceptable road toll.
We will also review engine capacity restrictions for new motorcycle riders.
The Minister today tabled the Government's response to a report into the Parliamentary TravelSafe committee's report into the Q-RIDE licensing system.
The purpose of the report was to investigate if the Q-RIDE training program was an effective training and assessment licensing system for motorbike riders.
Mr Mickel said of the 24 recommendations made in the report, the Government is supporting 10, partially supporting 3, and will further investigate 7. Four have not been supported.
"We are always looking at ways to improve the training motorbike riders receive," he said.
"We will also investigate options for conducting random on-site audits to ensure training continues to be of a high standard."
Mr Mickel said the government had made a commitment to continue to address motorbike rider safety and was already conducting a motorbike safety review that stemmed from the 2006 Road Safety Summit.
A number of Travelsafe recommendations have been partially supported.
"These include making changes to the Q-RIDE competency testing, improving the current system to examine Q-RIDE trainers and changing the timeframe that Q-RIDE training is delivered in."
Ten recommendations have been supported subject to further investigation, and the government intends for these to be explored as part of the larger motorbike safety review.
"This holistic review encompasses motorbike rider licensing, engineering, enforcement and education."
"Many of the issues and initiatives which were identified in Travelsafe's Report 47 Report on the Inquiry into Q-RIDE have been included in the review."
Since the Summit, Queensland Transport has already implemented two of the recommendations these are:
- regular meetings and professional development opportunities for Registered Service Providers (RSPs)
- improved training and assessment programs. It is intended that these changes will improve the quality of delivery of the Q-RIDE program.
"We must consider the implications of changes to the licensing system to ensure the changes will result in improved rider safety.
"Motorbike riding requires a different knowledge and skills to driving a car and we must ensure the changes to the licensing system helps riders learn the skills needed to travel on our roads safely.
“So far this year there have been 72 motorbike rider and pillion fatalities, compared to 52 to the same period last year.
“How many more riders and pillions will have to die before both motorists and motorbike riders take notice and change their driving and riding behaviour?
There are many riders on our roads to keep in sight with 130,855 motorbikes registered on Queensland roads (June 2007), up 17% over two years.
Mr Mickel said it was time the community played their part in reducing the road toll.
The government has already shown a track record in addressing motorbike safety with the introduction of broad-based motorbike safety initiatives, including:
- the implementation of a motorbike safety campaign in July this year which included television, radio, and outdoor advertising, a comprehensive website, and direct marketing of motorbike safety information for riders
- the introduction of new laws which require a motorbike rider to hold a provisional car licence for 12 months before gaining their learner motorbike licence, thereby providing valuable on-road experience
"We have also made a number of improvements to the Q-RIDE program; this is part of the government's ongoing commitment to improve Q-RIDE and the safety of motorbike riders.
"Mr Mickel said the whole community needs to be part of the solution to slow down and do their bit on the states roads.
"Queenslanders have told us they're concerned about road safety. Motorbike safety is extremely important, so let's see this concern converted into action."
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 10, 2007