Been a while since I've done one of these... Anyway, here's the gen from the meeting last night. First off, dear to everyone's heart... CTP/Greenslips ------------- You will have noticed if you have renewed in the last year or so that there's a line item on your greenslip for a LCTS[1] levy. This is a levy on all CTP to pay for those who are catastrophically injured in road crashes. It's a no fault payment. It was sold as an average $20 hike in greenslips. Motorcycles are paying well over $100 in most cases, and the bod in charge of the scheme has said that they should pay lots because they are most likely to use it. (even though it is supposed to be no fault) The MCC is about to have another meeting with the MAA over this. The MCC's arguments about relativity - the relative costs actually incurred in the greenslip (at fault) system by bikes compared to cars - have been well received. Well enough that $250,000 funding has been approved for research into the actual costs of each road user class. The first time this has been done for a long time if ever. Previous ideas were more or less pulled from the air (or other places). The MCC will be putting some ideas forward at the meeting including lower CTP for LAM class bikes, and for factory solo seat bikes. (Not as yet talking about a Qld style modification system as that's costly to manage and police.) The solo idea should benefit many dirt bike riders for example. It is possible this may see the end of the capacity based system for greenslips, suggestions as to a sensible way to class vehicles especially bikes welcome. The MCC will also be proposing that the LCTS levy be a flat fee attached to the rego not the greenslip and be the same fee for all vehicles. [1] that probably isn't the right acronym. I can't recall the right one and don't have a greenslip handy Councils and road conditions ---------------------------- At the moment, if a council is notified of a road hazard and they don't fix it they may be liable for damages but the cost of a successful action is horribly high and if you don't settle they'll fight hard for fear of precedent. So many people who are hurt by bad roads don't get far. The MCC is arranging with a law firm to represent a rider no win no fee as a test case. So a rider who has been injured due to a council's negligence - not filling a pothole, not managing bluemetal repairs properly, not doing crack sealing properly - may be able to get proper legal representation the MCC is also arranging with this firm for a set of guidelines for riders who have crashed and need to negotiate the compensation and insurance system. alcohol and insurance --------------------- some insurers, (GIO and QBE were mentioned) have changed their conditions to say that they may not pay out your comp insurance if you had *any* alcohol in your system, not just if you were over the legal limit. They get to decide if you were impaired and if they decide you were, refuse to pay. When asked over the phone they weaseled out saying that no, that's not what they meant. We await confirmation of this in writing. So read your policy carefully and ask them to give you an interpretation in writing. front plates ------------ Apparently the campaign in 2 wheels and AMCN is paying off. Word is that the Federal MInister for Transport has received a huge number of letters about front plates and is getting rather upset about it. Upset because he has no power to do anything about it, it's a state issue. All he can do is try and exert influence. He's not ignoring it, he is apparently seeking information from motorcycle groups, what he's asking and what the result will be who knows. But don't let him off the hook! And write to the state transport ministers as well. The problem is at state level. Some states want, some don't, but the ones who don't have to be made to care about not wanting it. To this end, the MCC is considering that protests may have to be made and are looking for suggestions. The protest needs to be photogenic so it gets on the news, preferably with some human story or something more than evil bikies. It needs to inconvenience politicians but not piss off the general public. So if you have idea on how to pull that off, please pass them on. Perhaps something funny that makes the point? There's also a secondary point that needs to be made:that motorcycles need to be including in transport policy and get some of the funding out there for vulnerable road users. Bicycles get many hundreds of thousands, motorcycles get bugger all. Not thinking about bikes was what got the whole front plate thing going, as if they'd thought about them in the beginning they'd have rear cameras only. helmet survey ------------- There hasn't been a review of helmet standards since AS1698. The MCC has asked why someone can't wear a European or US standard helmet here for example. So a study into helmets and fit and what works has been commissioned. It is in 2 parts, one looking at helmets that are worn and one into helmets that have done their job and saved a life. The 1st part will be where a group of researchers will go to various road and dirt rider hangouts and look at helmets on heads. How comfort translates into safe fit. They figure that if you bought the thing it must be comfortable for you, so they want to see how helmet shapes and sizes and comfort compares to head shape and size and if the helmet can twist or move. They are going to look at your size and shape and measure the head in various ways and so on. So if you see the MCC stall bring your lid over and get tested. The 2nd part is about lids that have worked. They are looking for helmets that have been in crashes, that got hit, and the rider lived to tell the tale. They want to take the helmet to bits and inspect it (it will be sliced up so you won't get it back) and talk to the rider about the crash and injuries if any. So if you threw it away and headbutted something they want to talk to you. Contact via Motorcycle awareness -------------------- We want to expand Motorcycle Awareness Week to the non-Sydney bits of NSW. See separate post. Zebee
