Page 53 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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I present the explanatory memorandum to the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Grassby) adjourned.
MOTOR TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 2) 1990
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (8.09), by leave: Mr Speaker, I present the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1990. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
The ACT Motor Traffic Act was introduced in 1936 and relates to the control of motor vehicles and the regulation of motor traffic. This Bill provides for novice motorcyclists to undertake a compulsory rider training course to ensure that they have attained a basic level of riding skills and knowledge of road rules before being allowed to ride on the road as a learner. It is the culmination of a road safety policy development that was initiated prior to self-government, carried on by the previous Labor Government under Minister Grassby and has now been quickly completed by my Government.
Let me say that I particularly welcome the opportunity to introduce this legislation as I believe it addresses one of the most critical problems in road safety. For too long our young people have been exposed to the high risks of motorcycle riding without proper preparation or guidance on how to negotiate those risks. Road crash experience has shown that 17- to 25-year-olds are the group most at risk of being involved in an accident. At the same time, motorcyclists have been shown to be the most vulnerable of all road users. Young novice motorcyclists are 20 times more likely than a motor car driver to be killed in a crash.
In its policy on transport issues the Alliance Government has emphasised the need to reduce the incidence of traffic accidents in the ACT. By ensuring our novice riders have attained a basic level of riding skill we are minimising the risk of their being involved in an accident through total inexperience or lack of basic knowledge.
This amendment very clearly reflects an ongoing commitment to protect all transport users, not only by improving the on-road environment but by improving the driver's and the rider's abilities to cope with its inherent dangers.
This initiative is consistent with national trends towards improving motorcycle rider safety. It accords with the motor cycle safety package endorsed by the Australian Transport Advisory Council in 1984 which includes pre-licence rider training and is in line with the current practices in New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
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