A carrot in the form of a subsidised discount is being offered to riders to participate in a First Aid for Motorcyclists course in Albury on the NSW-Victorian border.
The $30 subsidy on the $78 course is provided by the Albury Council and NSW Roads and Maritime Services for one session on Saturday, November 26.
It follows a subsidy by the Riverina Council for as course at Leeton. However, FAFM founder Tracy Hughes says she hopes other councils will take up the cause.
“We are talking with other RMS (Road and Maritime Services) Road Safety Officers for other regions across NSW. It’s early days, but getting the Riverina and Albury council on board is a great sign that good things will follow,” she says.
FAFM founders Roger Fance and Tracy HughesYou may not agree with subsidies, but a carrot in the form of a subsidy is surely better than the usual “stick” approach to road safety. We’re talking about increased penalties and cracking down on speeding, loud exhausts, wide handlebars, tail tidies, etc.
Political parties on both sides of the fence provide plenty of subsidies and tax relief for all sorts of businesses and organisations. They are simply giving their supporters something in return for their donations and votes.
Isn’t it about time riders got some carrot instead of the usual stick?
The stick approach just doesn’t seem to be working.
Other carrot subsidies could be handed out for rider training courses to encourage more riders to improve their skills.
However, there are very few rider courses subsidised by any level of government any more.
Political carrot to riders
Former Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party Senator Ricky Muir attended a FAFM course and threw his support behind subsidies.
Ricky Muir at First Aid for Motorcyclists course“There’s always a good case for either the federal or state governments to fund all sorts of prevention programs,” he says.
“Given the huge cost of serious casualty crashes, and the apparent importance of the ‘Golden Hour’ (the care that is provided in the first hour after a serious injury), there could be a case for a subsidy for a course of this type. Where such a subsidy might actually come from is a different question.”
FAFM is a community-based motorcycle accident management course being delivered around the country. There are other similar courses offered in various areas.
They provide riders with knowledge and skills to manage a dangerous accident scene. The courses provide the best chance of a good outcome for crash victims.
“In all the discussions around road safety, post-crash care is often overlooked,” Ricky said.
“It’s been estimated by researchers from the Australasian College of Road Safety that as many as 50% of road deaths are actually survivable injuries. That’s if people can get the kind of treatment they need.
“In medical talk, they refer to the ‘Golden Hour’. The First Aid for Motorcyclists course is important in this regard, and I’d encourage all riders to undertake a course like this one.”
To book a FAFM course, visit their website or call 0408 956 435.