Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council : VicRoads

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Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council

Role of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council
The Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC) was established in early 1998, to provide the State Government with strategic advice on issues relating to the management and development of motorcycling in Victoria.

The structure and wide-ranging membership of the VMAC ensures that the balanced advice that it provides is contemporary, well informed and represents the views of the motorcycling community.

Membership
VMAC includes representatives of motorcycle rider groups, manufacturers, retailers and rider training organisations, as well as Victoria Police, Transport Accident Commission, Monash University Accident Research Centre and VicRoads. VicRoads provides administrative support to the Council.

VMAC Members at August 2009

Neil O'Keefe (Chairperson) Ministerial appointment
Hollie Black Australian Scooter Federation
Samantha Cockfield Transport Accident Commission
Mark Collins HART/Honda
Bruce Corben Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC)
Cameron Cuthill Ministerial appointment
Peter Daly Royal Automobile Club of Victoria
Peter Dunphy Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce
Tony Ellis Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia
Robert Freemantle VicRoads
Detlef Lamp Victorian Motorcycle Council
Assistant Commissioner Ken Lay Victoria Police
Ray Newland Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
David Shelton VicRoads
Rob Smith Ministerial appointment
Moira Stewart Women's International Motorcycle Association
Wendy Taylor RoadSafe Victoria
Andrew Luck Ulysses Club

Jill Earnshaw of VicRoads is the current Secretary of VMAC (Tel: 03 9854 2256)

The Terms of Reference for VMAC [PDF, 25KB, 3 pages] provides further information on VMAC, its role and operation.

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VMAC Initiatives and activities
Highlights of recent VMAC activities/initiatives include:

  • Work with VicRoads to develop Victoria's Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013
  • A submission to the State Government recommending a Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme for novice riders in Victoria (2006) and ongoing representations on this issue (see below) A submission to the Parliament of Victoria, Road Safety Committee's Inquiry into Driver Distraction (2006)
  • Continued to liaise with the City of Melbourne on motorcycle matters including parking on footpaths
  • Advice to the Minister on the expenditure priorities for funds raised by the Motorcycle Safety Levy
  • Review and endorse project proposals for funding through the Motorcycle Safety Levy
  • Assistance to VicRoads and the Government in the development of industry-based motorcycle safety and education programs
  • Provision of information to contractors, engineers, designers and other road practitioners, on consideration of motorcyclists' needs in road design and construction practices
  • Participation in the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment's Trail Bike Initiative (see below)
  • Participation in the 2006-2008 Motorcycle Expos in Melbourne promoting motorcycle safety (see below)
  • Production of the Great Ocean Ride DVD
  • Motorcycle Forums in 2006 (see below)
  • A submission to NTC on the Australian Road Rules 2005 Amendment Package - Motorcycle lane splitting
  • Provision of input to numerous VicRoads motorcycling publications
  • Expansion of the representation on VMAC to reflect the growth in scooter sales
  • Liaison with Community Road Safety Councils and other organisations on motorcycling matters.


Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS)
On 6 July 2007, the Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, announced the Government would introduce new regulations for Learner and Probationary motorcyclists in Victoria through the introduction of a new Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS).

LAMS was introduced on 1 July 2008 providing novice riders access to a greater range of motorcycles and scooters appropriate to their level of experience and more suitable to riders of all sizes.

Further information on LAMS

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Victoria's Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013
VMAC played a significant role in the development of a new strategic action plan for Victoria's motorcycle and scooter riders. The plan recognises that motorcycles and scooters are a growing part of Victoria's transport future. It takes an integrated approach to both the road safety and mobility needs of riders of these vehicles.

Further information can be found at :
Victoria's Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013

Off Road Motorcycling
Whilst a key focus for VMAC is on road safety and motorcycles use of the road network, the Council also has a strong interest in addressing off road motorcycle issues.

In July 2006, the Victorian Government announced a $5 million project, known as the Trail Bike Project. The project, which will run over four years, Is addressing a range of issues in relation to recreational trail bike use in Victoria's state forests. VMAC strongly supports this initiative and is actively participating in this exciting project.

Further information on the project is available from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

VMAC Chairperson's Communique
VMAC currently meets every second month. Following the meeting the Chairperson provides an open communique highlighting the key initiatives discussed.

Motorcycle Safety Levy
In May 2002, the Victorian Government announced in the State Budget that a Motorcycle Safety Levy would be introduced. The effectiveness of the program has since been reviewed. As this showed considerable potential to improve rider safety, it was announced in September 2005 that the Levy would be extended for a further two years.

On 27 August 2007, after a further review, the Minister for Roads and Ports announced that the Motorcycle Safety Levy would continue indefinitely to build on the significant gains already achieved since its introduction. The Levy has been made more equitable for owners of multiple bikes from 1 January 2008, individual private operators who have more than one registered motorcycle will only have to pay the Levy on one of their bikes.

Trends in motorcycle and pillion fatalities since 2002 have been encouraging with an average 20 per cent reduction in Victoria compared to a 31 per cent increase in fatalities for the rest of Australia.

The Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC) fulfils an important role by advising the Minister for Roads and Ports on motorcycle initiatives, including projects funded by the Levy. It was involved in the development of the Strategic Guide for Expenditure of the Motorcycle Safety Levy Funding which involved the review of motorcycle safety trends, key issues, and an assessment of the benefits of potential measures. The Strategic Guide for Expenditure identifies priority areas for funding.

The four priority areas are:

  • education and training;
  • engineering and technology;
  • enforcement; and
  • enhanced data collection and analysis.


 

The projects funded from the Levy are over and above the annual motorcycle safety programs conducted by the TAC, VicRoads and Victoria Police. These on-going programs will continue in order to achieve the aims of the Victoria's Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013 [PDF, 2,437 kb, 44pp] .

The funds from this Levy go directly to initiatives to improve the safety of riders. To the end of June 2009 approximately $35 million, raised from the Levy, has been committed to motorcycle projects. These projects include on-road and non-road related projects.

One of the most important initiatives funded by the Levy to date has been road improvements at over 119 blackspot locations where multiple motorcycle crashes have occurred or on routes where motorcyclists are most at risk. The improvements are specifically developed by engineers and expert riders to address the types of crashes riders have experienced at these locations These projects have involved considerable input from members of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council as well as researchers and motorcycle safety experts.

A preliminary analysis undertaken of 85 blackspot locations treated under the Levy showed a 24 per cent reduction in motorcycle injury crashes at those locations.

A summary of many of the approved Motorcycle Safety Levy projects can be found on the arrive alive website.


Motorcycle Safety Levy On-Road Projects Funded to August 2007
Motorcycle Engineering Projects - No of Projects within each municipality at August 2007


Maps currently being updated.

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VMAC Motorcycle Forums 2006 - Summary
The Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC) conducted three community forums during April and May 2006. At each forum VMAC gave a presentation on its role and current activities, particularly those activities being funded through the Motorcycle Safety Levy. It also explained its role in relation to the ongoing motorcycle related activities of VicRoads, the Police and the Transport Accident Commission.

Through the forums VMAC asked participants to “have their say”; identify their issues of concern and areas that they believed would assist in making motorcycling in Victoria safer and more enjoyable.

The forums were held in Traralgon (5 April), Horsham (10 May) and Melbourne (24 May). The forums were marketed in the local press and through motorcycle clubs, dealerships and the local motorcycle communities. Between 50 and 70 people attended each forum with representatives from motorcycle clubs, local councils, Victoria Police, local VicRoads regions joining local riders and dealers who just came along to have their say. Members of the Advisory Council were there to meet motorcyclists, present information and listen to the issues being raised.

VMAC would like to thank all those participants who gave of their valuable time to assist it in identifying and progressively addressing priority issues for motorcyclists.

Further information on issues identified at the 2006 forums and relevant VMAC and VicRoads activities is attached.

VMAC Motorcycle Forums 2006 - Summary [PDF, 107KB, 4pp]

VMAC Motorcycle Forums 2006 [PDF, 114KB, 13pp] - full list of issues


Motorcycle Publications
Further information for riders and those involved in motorcycle planning is contained in the following publications.

Any reference in the Motorcycle Notes to the Road Safety (Road Rules) Regulations 1999 should be read as a reference to the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 and Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2009.

VicRoads Motorcycle Notes

 

Other Motorcycle Related Material

 

Other Relevant Websites
Motorcycling Australia (Vic) - Affiliated Clubs


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For further information on VMAC matters email vmac@roads.vic.gov.au