Tag Archives: driver training

Learner drivers taught motorcycle awareness

Many riders would like to see more motorcycle awareness taught to learner drivers like the computer-generated videos UK has just introduced.

Australian states have various versions of motorcycle and bicycle awareness training, but none as good as this.

Even though this is a great presentation and only one of many, we do have one quibble: Who in their right mind would drive out in front of headlights, anyway, whether they are a car or motorcycle?Driver training car motorcycles awareness

Motorcycle awareness training

There are various similar training methods in most Australian states.

For example, Queensland’s PrepL interactive online learning and assessment program for learner drivers includes one module out of three which concentrates on sharing the road with different user groups such as motorcyclists.

Driver training car motorcycles awareness
Qld’s PrepL training

“This module helps participants understand specific road rules related to motorcycles and provides practical advice about how drivers should safely interact with them,” a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson says.

However, like Australian leaner driver training, the UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency videos are only part of the training, not part of the theory test.

They have been made with the help of road safety campaigner and keen biker Ria Brisland whose 19-year-old son, Nick, died in April 2015 after being involved in a collision with a car while riding his motorcycle.

Driver training car motorcycles awareness
Nick Brisland

Getting everyone to be aware of their fellow road users at all times is essential if we are to prevent collisions and the devastating consequences they can have on families,” Ria says.

“These new clips are thought-provoking and will make a difference to the way people look for bikers. They may prove the difference between life and death.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Why the resistance to driver training?

Despite motorcycle riders calling for more driver training and awareness of riders, authorities continue to resist for a variety of reasons.

Riders believe better trained drivers would be more aware of them and rules such as lane filtering, making their ride safer.

However, politicians and authorities usually reject driver training as being expensive, promoting hooning and unfair for people in remote areas who would have difficulty accessing further training.

Longtime rider advocate John Nelson points out other erroneous arguments in the article “The effectiveness of driver training as a road safety measure” by former VicRoads officer Ron Christie which appeared in the RACV magazine Royal Auto.

Basically it says that there is no empirical evidence that advanced training reduces crashes or makes drivers better or changes their behaviour. You can read the full report here.

Since there is no research into how motorcycle awareness and education about lane filtering affects drivers, there is also no evidence that shows it doesn’t affect behaviour and skills.

John says motorcycle awareness should be trialled it to see if it does have benefits.

Driver training agendaMotorcycle car blind spot safety crash driver training

“I am sure (Ron) was paid a handsome sum for this article to support the VicRoads agenda and silence and oppose advocacy of driver education,” he says.

“He had his finger in the pie with the statement that Vicroads will not do anything that could be construed as encouraging motorcycles.  He hates bikes and change.  

“There is a big difference between driver training and driver education.  We are all taught the three Rs in schools.  Why not driver education?  

“Attitudes, discipline, behaviour and knowledge are not taught to those who want to drive.  All they are taught is to pass the license test.”

John points out that teachers are required to have a university degree before teaching kids, but parents and driver instructors aren’t.

“The government seems hell bent on enforcement and revenue over education,” he says.  

“If a lot more road users behaved and complied with speed limits and other popular traffic offences there would be a short fall in the Victorian Budget.  

“Victoria has factored in $400 million into the ‘19-‘20 budget.  If there is a major drop in traffic related revenue the government would look at other means of raising that short fall.  It is a vicious circle.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com