The proposal to introduce a blanket 50mph limit on 'A' roads is yet
another knee jerk response that fails to recognise the nature of the
problem it seeks to address, says The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG).
Latest official figures show that staying within a speed limit, but
going too fast for the immediate conditions, leads to more than 5% of
all recorded collisions, which is more of a problem for society than
exceeding the speed limit, a factor in just 3% of collisions.
Like the other 40% of collisions involving an error of judgement or poor
reaction, there is more to be gained by addressing vehicle drivers’
attitudes and skills than dumbing down speed limits to the lowest level
the DfT thinks it can get away with.
When speed limits are reduced below levels which make sense to people,
they tend to ignore them and treat other limits with disrespect. MAG
President Ian Mutch said "For some people there is a seductive
attraction to the idea of ratcheting down speed limits on the assumption
that the slower everyone goes the safer they must be. This logic fails
to recognise reality or to find the best balance between reasonable
expectations for mobility and safety. For motorcyclists, the main causes
of death and injury lie with other vehicle drivers' and poor road
surfaces, the government must deal with these issues and not look for
smokescreens such as a 50mph blanket speed limit."
Further information: Ian Mutch 020 8556 6495 theroad@mag-uk.org
Nich Brown: 01788 570066 nich.brown@mag-uk.org
The Motorcycle Action Group – Protecting motorcycling
Showing posts with label speed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speed. Show all posts
Monday, 30 March 2009
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
No Chips for Bikers
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) abandons proposals to chip motorcycle number plates.
The DVLA have announced that they will not be seeking government approval to fit micro chip Electronic Vehicle Identification, (EVI) to motorcycle number plates. The DVLA had embarked on a feasibility study, including field trials, to determine the effectiveness of EVI as a means of combating motorcycle vehicle excise evasion.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) was consulted on the project and voiced concerns that the cost to introduce such a system would far outweigh the monies recouped in excise duty. MAG also expressed concern that the proposal to single out motorcycles was discriminatory.
In a report released by the DVLA today the conclusion to the study is that the cost of introducing EVI for all motorcycles would cost in the region of ñ00 million and would only provide a return of approximately ò7 million for HM treasury. The report concludes that advances in ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology render the use of EVI unnecessary.
The report comes days after the DVLA issued an apology for wrongly estimating the level of motorcycle VED evasion at 40%, a gross overestimation of the actual rate which is 6%.
MAG Campaigns Manager said, ԉ am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that the DVLA has listened to and acted on motorcyclists concerns. EVI was a sledgehammer to crack a nut and the proposals to only include motorcyclists is discriminatory. MAG does not in any way condone motorcyclists who choose to ride their bikes without tax and will continue to work with motorcyclists, government, the police and the DVLA to eradicate VED evasion.
For further information or comment contact:
David Short
Email campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation
www.mag-uk.org
The DVLA have announced that they will not be seeking government approval to fit micro chip Electronic Vehicle Identification, (EVI) to motorcycle number plates. The DVLA had embarked on a feasibility study, including field trials, to determine the effectiveness of EVI as a means of combating motorcycle vehicle excise evasion.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) was consulted on the project and voiced concerns that the cost to introduce such a system would far outweigh the monies recouped in excise duty. MAG also expressed concern that the proposal to single out motorcycles was discriminatory.
In a report released by the DVLA today the conclusion to the study is that the cost of introducing EVI for all motorcycles would cost in the region of ñ00 million and would only provide a return of approximately ò7 million for HM treasury. The report concludes that advances in ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology render the use of EVI unnecessary.
The report comes days after the DVLA issued an apology for wrongly estimating the level of motorcycle VED evasion at 40%, a gross overestimation of the actual rate which is 6%.
MAG Campaigns Manager said, ԉ am pleased that common sense has prevailed and that the DVLA has listened to and acted on motorcyclists concerns. EVI was a sledgehammer to crack a nut and the proposals to only include motorcyclists is discriminatory. MAG does not in any way condone motorcyclists who choose to ride their bikes without tax and will continue to work with motorcyclists, government, the police and the DVLA to eradicate VED evasion.
For further information or comment contact:
David Short
Email campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation
www.mag-uk.org
Monday, 8 October 2007
DfT ‘Think!’ Rural Speed Campaign
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) supports the new Government ‘Think!’ campaign to raise motorist’s awareness of the dangers of speeding on rural roads.
The campaign highlights that in rural areas accidents often involve single vehicles suggesting that drivers are travelling in excess of the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions. In 2006 325 car drivers were killed on rural roads.
As vulnerable road users motorcyclists are often the victims of dangerous, careless and aggressive driving which is exacerbated when that driver behaviour takes place on narrow roads with high hedgerows and limited visibility.
Motorcyclists too need to recognise that roads are not race tracks and that having an accident in remote rural areas is further complicated because of access problems and distances the emergency services have to travel. It is a sobering thought that you are three times more likely to die in an accident on a rural road than an urban one.
MAG’s Campaign Manager, David Short, says “ Motorcyclists are often branded as using rural roads as race tracks but it is clear from the Governments own evidence that it goes much wider and that this is as much a problem with dangerous and careless car drivers.”
“I would advise all motorcyclist’s to heed the campaigns advice and drive within the speed limits and at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions. Unlike race tracks which have huge run off areas with marshals and medics on standby the rural roads have no such immediate support by the emergency services and dry stone walls and trees offer little ‘give’ in the event of an impact!”
“Advanced training courses or assessments such as the excellent police run Bike Safe courses will give riders a better appreciation of hazards and improved riding skills.”
1. Think! Campaign http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
2. Details on Bikesafe can be found at http://www.bikesafe.co.uk
3. DSA's Register of post-test motorcycle trainers http://tinyurl.com/3xg4n2
4. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) "Skill for Life" http://www.iam.org.uk
5. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders http://www.roada.org
6. Motorcycle Retailers Association and Motorcycle Riders Training Association (MRTA) http://www.rmif.co.uk
7. David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
Issued by
MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR
Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
The campaign highlights that in rural areas accidents often involve single vehicles suggesting that drivers are travelling in excess of the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions. In 2006 325 car drivers were killed on rural roads.
As vulnerable road users motorcyclists are often the victims of dangerous, careless and aggressive driving which is exacerbated when that driver behaviour takes place on narrow roads with high hedgerows and limited visibility.
Motorcyclists too need to recognise that roads are not race tracks and that having an accident in remote rural areas is further complicated because of access problems and distances the emergency services have to travel. It is a sobering thought that you are three times more likely to die in an accident on a rural road than an urban one.
MAG’s Campaign Manager, David Short, says “ Motorcyclists are often branded as using rural roads as race tracks but it is clear from the Governments own evidence that it goes much wider and that this is as much a problem with dangerous and careless car drivers.”
“I would advise all motorcyclist’s to heed the campaigns advice and drive within the speed limits and at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions. Unlike race tracks which have huge run off areas with marshals and medics on standby the rural roads have no such immediate support by the emergency services and dry stone walls and trees offer little ‘give’ in the event of an impact!”
“Advanced training courses or assessments such as the excellent police run Bike Safe courses will give riders a better appreciation of hazards and improved riding skills.”
1. Think! Campaign http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
2. Details on Bikesafe can be found at http://www.bikesafe.co.uk
3. DSA's Register of post-test motorcycle trainers http://tinyurl.com/3xg4n2
4. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) "Skill for Life" http://www.iam.org.uk
5. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders http://www.roada.org
6. Motorcycle Retailers Association and Motorcycle Riders Training Association (MRTA) http://www.rmif.co.uk
7. David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
Issued by
MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR
Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
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