Australian riders have long been asking for a bigger say in road safety issues that affect one of the most vulnerable groups of road users … and now it looks like that may be on the road ahead.
Last month’s Joint Select Committee on Road Safety final report, Improving Road Safety in Australia, includes 22 recommendations, including a Select Committee on Road Safety with a National Motorcycle Consultative Committee.
If recommendation 12 to establish the motorcycle committee is approved it is expected to include public applications and invitations to individual riders and rider groups.
The Australian Government is reviewing all recommendations and will provide a response in the first half of 2021.
The Office of Infrastructure told us that since it has not yet been approved, the timeline and logistics of invitations and applications have not yet been formalised.
However, they did point out that the Australian Government “supports effective communication with motorcycle groups and other road user groups”.
“For example, the Australian Motorcycle Council has attended two separate road safety ministerial roundtables, in September 2019 and October 2020, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz.
“In developing the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30, the Office of Road Safety held targeted consultation meetings with over 50 road safety organisations, industry and non-governmental groups including the Australian Motorcycle Council.”
If recommendation 12 is approved, we will update riders on how they can apply for a seat on the committee.