News and Information for Local MAG Groups and MAG member clubs.

End September, 1998.

1 ROADRUNNER: went out on 3rd September to everyone with a membership expiring up to and including "end August, 1998". Anyone joining MAG after 31st August, 1998 will get their first copy in early December, 1998. We may have a few spare copies in the office if anyone wants one. Best to phone first to see if there are any left.

2 GROUP CONFERENCE: If you plan on being there please make sure you phone the MAG office any evening after 6.00pm; leave your name and MAG No on the Voicemail. So far only 3 members have bothered to tell the MAG Office that they are going to be at the conference, despite the fact we know that as many as 200 have mentioned they are coming. That way your number goes into the hat for the draw for one of the three cash prizes on offer at the Conference. It also helps us know how many folk to cater for the FREE eats before and after the Conference itself. If you don't tell the office you are coming it is impossible to make proper arrangements - expect to go hungry!

3 ACCOMMODATION: B&B or Camping space must be booked direct with Middleton Hall and not with MAG.

4 SOCIAL EVENING: Being organised by MAG Longford-Westmeath; bands booked so far are Four Play and Father Fran. A modest charge will be made to break even on the evenings entertainment.

5 NOMINATIONS: still time to get in your nomination for your own Regional Representative; contact the General Secretary before 8th October.

6 NORWICH UNION: Members report getting nowhere when they ask Norwich Union for a letter confirming No Claims. The answer is to send a FAX direct to Brian Sherwin on 01 671 0751; that alone seems to get the desired results.

7 TOURING DIRECTORY: is now on the Internet; the full listing can be found if you go to:
http://dredd.meng.ucl.ac.uk/www/mag/irl/touring.html

8 MEDIA MENTIONS
At long last, after nearly always being totally ignored by the Irish media, or worse presented in a stereo-typical Hollywood Hell's Angel fashion, MAG has notched up several media successes; more in a week than we'd got in the previous 12 months!

Letters to the Editor, Irish Times
Wednesday 16th September, 1998.

Sir,

I read your editorial "Rash of Road Deaths", 11th September, 1998, with interest.
It may baffle you, as it does me, that a national motorcycling organisation with over 2,300 individual members and 30 member clubs is never consulted nor invited onto relevant safety planning committees. We are the recognised body for road going motorcycling.

Our record in promoting motorcycling safety is well known; producing the safety booklet "The Right Way" and organising its free issue to every Irish motorcyclist; fostering the provision of quality, accessible and affordable rider training nation wide. Very soon we will be launching a high profile, hard-hitting, poster campaign. In this year alone we have done far more to promote safety issues than any other roads user group.

As vulnerable road users we are very conscious of the need to improve road safety. In two thirds of accidents in which a motorcycle is involved, the primary cause is the other vehicle. We do not like visiting our members in hospital or burying them. Yet when we approach State bodies concerned with roads safety months can go by before we receive any reply and then it is the traditional "thank you for your letter which is receiving attention".

If the powers that be really are seriously interested in tackling our roads accidents and safety issues, it is time they recognised the fact that all road users have to be involved. We have a serious problem; together much can be done to tackle it. The time for ritual hand wringing in Dail Éireann and lofty sound bites from safety guru's is long past.

Yours, etc.,

In case you are wondering what lies behind this, it is par for the course, every time one writes to a state body or government department never to get an actual reply to a letter. It's a good day to even get an acknowledgement, rarely is anything further ever heard. This is absolutely unacceptable. Judging by the feedback we've had to this letter we are far from alone. The appearance of that letter could well have prompted the next item:

Pat Kenny's Today radio show
Friday 18th September, 1998.
Pat read out an e-mail we'd sent him several days earlier following discussions about urban congestion:

Powered two wheeled vehicles (PTW's) - that is mopeds, scooters and motorcycles have a greater potential to help reduce Dublin's traffic congestion than any of the measures we have heard advocated:
FACT The Irish PTW fleet is 1.76% of the total vehicle fleet.
FACT The European average PTW % of the vehicle fleet is 14.6%
FACT 17 out of 20 vehicles in our rush hours carry ONE person
FACT Those 17 vehicles take up the road space of 55 PTW's in motion.
FACT They need as much parking space as 85 PTW's
FACT Unlike pedal cycles PTW's don't hold up buses in bus lanes
(NB Many European Cities permit PTW's in Bus lanes)
FACT You don't have to be in peak physical condition and/or in the full
bloom of youth to ride a PTW.
FACT PTW's make a minuscule contribution to pollution compared with a
car.
FACT PTW travel, even on a 500cc machine is cheaper than buses.
Ever wondered by the police and couriers use PTW's?
So, what's stopping us?
1 Perceptions fostered by an ill-informed media that motorcycles are dangerous. So too axes, carving knives, shotguns and cars!
2 Lack of SECURE parking facilities, 10 000 car park spaces constructed with tax benefits ALL for cars - there is not one single, legal parking space for a motorcycle in the entire State.
3 Lack of encouragement to consider PTW's from the State, e.g.: in the 12 months to end April 98 the State collected a mere £ 1, 506,000 in VRT from 6727 new and used motorcycles. Elimination of VRT would make PTW's more attractive alternatives (if only to the 2nd car)
4 Safety Gear: crash helmets required by law; VAT charged at the 21% luxury rate!
5 Lack of quality rider training facilities - something that MAG Ireland and the Irish Rider Training Association hope to improve very soon.
It is a constant source of amazement to anyone who rides a motorcycle that any sane person, faced with a single-person journey into and out of town, is happy (seemingly) to spend 5 - 10 times longer on their journeys.
Would very much welcome the opportunity to put the PTW case properly.

It was intended that an interview would follow later in the programme but a sudden appearance by Dolly Parton meant Pat ran out of time. However we got passed on to:

Rodney Rice's Saturday View programme on
Saturday 19th September, 1998.

This report is based on the notes I took at the time because I feel it is important to note some of the views held by the various participants who were:

Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for the Environment
Brendan Howlin TD, former Minister for the Environment
Pat Costello, CEO of the National Safety Council
Michael Horan, Insurance Federation
Tommy Gorman, RTE's European Correspondent
John Wheeler, MAG Ireland

Theme was on safety, Dempsey opened the batting by admitting that his department "recognised there was a problem 12 months ago"!!. A High Level Group has been formed (with no motorcyclists represented) which resulted in the government's recently announced Strategy for Road Safety. Dempsey said that this concentrated in 3 things; Speed, Alcohol and Seat Belts.

Howlin said that the downward accident trend which had been decreasing "suddenly" started to increase 2 years ago and they had no idea why! (Like massive increase in car numbers / total vehicle kms being driven etc.!!) He reckoned that the need was for more enforcement.

Costello: a cultural change was needed, we are now seeing road rage emerge; need for a multi-agency approach

Dempsey: will soon be a written test. NO evidence that the younger drive was more likely to have an accident and that the younger people are more responsible regarding alcohol and speed.

Costello: mentioned that there will be a major Road Safety Conference at the Royal Hospital on 29th October with over 100 people there. (This is, of course, the first MAG has head of this)

Howlin: pointed out, with regard to vehicle testing, only 1% of accidents are attributed to vehicle defects.

Horan: said that the government's strategy was excellent, the insurance industry was interested in the Speed, Alcohol and Seat Belts points and added they were NOT interested in anything else!!!!!!!
He added there was no strong statistical evidence that provisional licence holders were more prone to have accidents (So why the hell a 20% surcharge?????) and that the requirement for being accompanied by an experienced driver was not a priority. (God help us)

Howling: pointed out that Roads Engineering needed to be improved.

Dempsey: questioned the need for such wide hard shoulders on many stretches of N roads, and agreed that a further gradation of speed limits was necessary. As regards engineering solutions £ 6M had been allocated to National Roads and £ 800M to non-national ones.

Costello: spoke of their Road Safety Together groups targeting the 17-25 age group.

Tommy Gorman: Ireland in the middle of the league per 1M inhabitants. Overseas alcohol limits much more severe. Speeding, 30k above the limit = loss of licence for 1 month, other societies frown on drink, speeding etc. Most learners have to do a minimum of 20 hrs on dual control vehicles; our provisional licence situation was "unique" (such diplomacy)

MAG was only brought I at the bitter end of the 'debate' and we had to listen on the line to all this going on without the chance to intervene (most trying!), when invited in we had very little time, not enough to address all the points raised but we did get in:

* An abysmal lack of Roadcraft right across the board, all road users, Pedestrians who step out without looking, Cyclists who consider themselves immune to traffic lights, traffic flows (wrong way riding), Cars making no allowance for vulnerable vehicles such as motorcycles and cycles.

* Speed limits arbitrary: too high for some conditions (night), far too low in others and where unrealistically low they will NOT to obeyed; need for sanity.

* Training: rider training, MAG trying to get highest standard rider training established nation-wide.

* Need for visible policing, citing the fact that the mere presence of patrol cars patrolling (not checking tax disks) has a very calming effect; that its possible to drive/ride 200 mls in this state without seeing a single patrol car and you can't do 10 mls in the UK:
That our marvellous fleet of Pan European motorcycles is only visible for:
Clinton Visits
Tour de France
Escorting prisoners form Portlaoise Ministerial escorts

There was no time to make any other points, nor expand on those made, not for the rest of the panel to react.

Interesting to note that during a commercial break and thus not heard on the air Dempsey observed that all the interest would be over within a week to 10 days. Difficult to tell if he said this with regret or relief.

9 BUDGET SUBMISSIONS
This is of course the time of year when everyone makes budget submissions as we have done in every previous year: this is what we are asking for:
VAT ON MOTORCYCLISTS CRASH HELMETS

Currently VAT is charged at the highest (21%) rate on motorcyclists' crash helmets.

· Wearing a crash helmet is a compulsory, legal requirement.
· Unlike any other item of "motorcyclists' clothing" such as jackets, trousers, boots &
Gloves, a crash helmet can,. By no stretch of the imagination be considered either
Dual purpose (it does not substitute for a hat or cap), nor is it a fashion accessory.
· Greater use of "motorcycles" (i.e.: any form of powered two-wheeled vehicle) is an important
Part of the solution to urban congestion.
· Typically the effect of VAT on crash helmets "fines" the rider £ 29

MAG Ireland submits that there should be NO VAT chargeable on motorcyclists' crash helmets.

VRT CHARGEABLE ON MOTORCYCLES

The imposition of VRT on motorcycles (i.e.: any form of powered two-wheeled vehicle) effectively discourages car owning commuters from switching over to more efficient transport better suited to our increasingly suggested urban conditions. This tax must be one of the most expensive and least efficient fiscal measures. In the period May 1997 - April 1998 the total amount of VRT collected was:
New motorcycles 3720 machines produced a total of £ 1,010,000
Used motorcycles 3007 machines produced a total of £ 496,000
Total amount charged £1,506,000

Given the massive cost to society of urban congestion any measure which would encourage car owners to use powered two wheel transport should be encouraged.

The fact that the smaller, more efficient and more suitable vehicles for urban use - machines below 350cc are charged at £ 2 per cc - whilst those above 350cc are charged at £ 2 on the first 350cc and £ 1 on cc's from 351cc upwards is, effectively, penalising the most suitable smaller machines.

MAG Ireland submits that the elimination of VRT on all motorcycles would be an important and highly cost-effective contribution towards reducing urban congestion.

STAMP DUTY CHARGED ON MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE POLICIES

The cost of motorcycle insurance in Ireland is grossly excessive. Until 1st January 1998 when, due to MAG Ireland efforts, a second insurer entered the market (but only for riders over 25 years old and machines over 250cc - in effect benefiting only 25% of Irish motorcyclists) Irish motorcyclists have had a "choice" of just one company. Three-quarters of Irish motorcyclists still have that one company "choice"! Any fiscal measure which reduced, however modestly, the high cost of insurance would be extremely popular. It is virtually certain that the cost of collection of this tax is uneconomic.

MAG Ireland submits that stamp duty on motorcycle insurance policies should be abolished.

PROVISION OF FUNDING FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDER TRAINING.

The experience ion other comparable countries where high quality, accessible and affordable motorcycle rider training is established has shown that a reduction in motorcycle related accidents in excess of 50% can be achieved. Taking the NRA's figures for the cost of accidents, and applying this to the 1996 (latest currently available) accident statistics means that a 50% accident reduction would be worth, in terms of savings to society £ 96,000 per day.

In an effort to ensure the provision of appropriate motorcycle rider training facilities nation-wide MAG Ireland has assisted the formation of the Irish Rider Training Association which requires £ 90,000 in order to fund its development over its first three years, after which it would be self-financing.

Therefore £ 90,000 over 3 years can help produce savings of £ 35,000,000 annually

The most significant and immediate benefit to the State would be a marked decrease in the cost to the Health Service.

We note that, through COSPOIR, off road motorcycle sport has received, over many years State funding of some £ 100 000 pa.

MAG Ireland submits that, consistent with the Government's Strategy for Road Safety, adequate but very modest funding should be made available for motorcycle rider training.

MAG Ireland requests that the Minister for Finance agrees to meet with a small delegation of Irish motorcyclists at an early date in order to discuss these submissions more fully.

Now, I would not hold your breath. Most such submissions, not just ours, tend to get binned, but if we don't make them the government can assume that we are totally happy. Given that funding for IRTA would cost less in its first two years than the annual cost of the Taoiseach's permanent stand-by make up consultant (Yep, you and I pay £ 750 a week for that if media reports are accurate!) we may as well make our demands known.

10 INSURANCE
Two underwriting groups, one of whom we were in discussion with over 3 years ago are now showing positive interest in the Irish market. We are specifically talking to them in relation to younger riders and smaller machines. This appears to be a very positive and encouraging development, perhaps the best so far but celebrations would be premature. It can take underwriters a long time to make up their minds and I have yet to meet any with the sort of entrepreneurial spirit we really need.
At the General Conference we will be announcing some very good news from Carole Nash which will be much welcomed by all members. I am meeting their top management on 9th October, if you have any matters you'd like me to raise, call me straight away.

11 MAKING OUR PRESENCE FELT
Consistent with out policy of constantly putting the motorcyclists agenda forward right now we have requests in for meeting with:

Noel Dempsey, Minister for the Environment; regarding provision of funding for rider training.

Mary O'Rourke, Minister for Public Enterprise: regarding LUAS.

Charlie McCreevy, Minister for Finance regarding our Budget Submissions.

We are meeting next week with the Chairman and CEO of the National Safety Council who, at long last (it took them just 2 ½ months) got around to replying to us. Two previous letters were neglected.

Thanks to the intervention of the Taoiseach our offer, made on 6th May, to provide local tax offices with copies of the Right Way for issue to first time provisional licence applicants has been taken up (again after a 4 month wait for a reply and numerous chase-ups).

12 LETTER WRITERS
We appealed for letter writers, ideally but NOT essentially, folk we can contact on e-mail (because its quicker and cheaper), the response has been encouraging but, despite that only 1% of MAG members have agreed to help in this way. If you can write a letter - MAG NEEDS YOU!

13 REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
So far we have not yet received one single nomination for the position of Regional Representative in the entire country! Make sure your region is not without representation. Get your nomination to the MAG Office as soon as possible- the deadline is 8th October.

14 MAG LINK
The aim is to get MAG Link out on the next to last Wednesday of each month, so it reaches all MAG ahead of their next meeting. If you have anything you would like mentioned, tell me in good time.

Ride Safe and Free

John Wheeler.