Mutley's Place
Tougher motorbike licensing to cut road toll
December 5, 2007 - 3:51PM
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says further changes may be made to the state's
motorcycle licensing system to cut the rising road toll.
Queensland is headed for its highest number of road deaths in a decade, with the
death of a motorcyclist in the Gold Coast hinterland yesterday pushing this year's toll
to 336.
Motorcyclists have comprised a disproportionate share of the road death statistics.
They represent only four per cent of registered vehicles but 21 per cent of the road
toll.
Ms Bligh today said she had asked Queensland Transport to consider ways to
reduce the "alarming rise" of motorcycle deaths.
"The number of people dying on motorbikes is unacceptably high," she told reporters.
"I have asked for further advice on what can be done in terms of the legislation, the
licensing system, to ensure that we are protecting people on the roads, and to
ensure that we are getting the best possible system of licensing and training.
"If we can do better then we'll do better."
The government in 2001 introduced Q-RIDE, a competency-based training and
licensing system, in response to an alarming rise in the number of fatal motorbike
crashes.
However, a parliamentary committee in June found the system lowered the minimum
standards required to get a licence in Queensland.
Ms Bligh said the government was working to reduce the road toll with the
introduction of roadside drug testing and new laws to confiscate the vehicles of serial
hoons.
Fixed speed cameras would also be introduced over Christmas, she said.
"Those three things will make a difference, I think," Ms Bligh said.
But opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said current road safety strategies
were not working.
He urged the government to fix known black spots, improve road surfaces and
remove roadside hazards, rather than spend money on road safety advertisements.
"It's estimated that just by fixing known black spots, we can reduce the number of
road fatalities by up to 30 per cent," Mr Nicholls said.
Queensland's highest recorded road toll was 638 in 1973.
AAP
December 5, 2007 - 3:51PM
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says further changes may be made to the state's
motorcycle licensing system to cut the rising road toll.
Queensland is headed for its highest number of road deaths in a decade, with the
death of a motorcyclist in the Gold Coast hinterland yesterday pushing this year's toll
to 336.
Motorcyclists have comprised a disproportionate share of the road death statistics.
They represent only four per cent of registered vehicles but 21 per cent of the road
toll.
Ms Bligh today said she had asked Queensland Transport to consider ways to
reduce the "alarming rise" of motorcycle deaths.
"The number of people dying on motorbikes is unacceptably high," she told reporters.
"I have asked for further advice on what can be done in terms of the legislation, the
licensing system, to ensure that we are protecting people on the roads, and to
ensure that we are getting the best possible system of licensing and training.
"If we can do better then we'll do better."
The government in 2001 introduced Q-RIDE, a competency-based training and
licensing system, in response to an alarming rise in the number of fatal motorbike
crashes.
However, a parliamentary committee in June found the system lowered the minimum
standards required to get a licence in Queensland.
Ms Bligh said the government was working to reduce the road toll with the
introduction of roadside drug testing and new laws to confiscate the vehicles of serial
hoons.
Fixed speed cameras would also be introduced over Christmas, she said.
"Those three things will make a difference, I think," Ms Bligh said.
But opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said current road safety strategies
were not working.
He urged the government to fix known black spots, improve road surfaces and
remove roadside hazards, rather than spend money on road safety advertisements.
"It's estimated that just by fixing known black spots, we can reduce the number of
road fatalities by up to 30 per cent," Mr Nicholls said.
Queensland's highest recorded road toll was 638 in 1973.
AAP
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