PRESS RELEASE :

28/08/2003 Immediate Release

MAG Ireland Disappointed with Government Proposals for Basic Training

MAG Ireland, the association representing Ireland's moped, scooter and
motorcycle riders, today slammed Transport Minister Seamus Brennan's
proposals to introduce a system of compulsory basic training for
motorcyclists only. For some time, the Motorcyclists' Action Group has made representations to
the Minister indicating that recent moves to implement a "permit" system,
based on motorcyclists' completing 10 hours compulsory training are
unworkable and fail to properly address the high rates of accidents among
all road user groups in the country. "MAG Ireland is entirely supportive of measures which will improve road
safety and encourages all riders to avail of training. However, our members
are seriously concerned that basic training requirements appear to be
entirely directed at motorcyclists. The application of a requirement for
basic training to one group of road user alone fails to address the core
issue of lack of basic skills and training as a major contributory factor
in the inordinately high fatality rates amongst all road user groups" said
National Campaigns Officer, Karen Kiely.

Insurance industry figures indicate that in 75% of accidents involving a
motorcyclist and another vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle and not
the motorcyclist is judged to be at fault. Whilst observation skills and
anticipation of the behaviour of other road users are key tenets of
defensive driving/riding techniques, it is ill advised to load
motorcyclists alone with the responsibility for avoiding these accidents.
Traffic Research Laboratory (UK) studies indicate that the failure of other
road users to see the motorcyclist is the major cause of accidents and
there is little evidence to support the effectiveness in terms of accident
reduction of Compulsory Basic Training for motorcyclists only which was
introduced in the UK in 1990.

In the absence of a register of accredited instructors and off road
training centres, these proposals are premature and serve only to
demonstrate the Minister's lack of understanding of the scope of the
problems surrounding Ireland's appalling road accident statistics. With
over 300,000 provisional car licence holders on the roads and with
fatalities among car drivers making up 66% of road deaths according to the
most recent figures available, it is not only facile but dangerously
irresponsible of the Minister to scapegoat motorcyclists whilst ignoring
the real solution to road accidents, which is basic training for all road
users.

MAG Ireland's chairman, Eoin Kirwan, said "In effect, by introducing
compulsory training for motorcycles only, the Minister is blaming
motorcyclists for all accidents. Motorcyclists, along with cyclists and
pedestrians are vulnerable road users and hand-in-hand with responsible
behaviour on their own part, the drivers of larger vehicles need to take
greater care in their presence, give them room, and look carefully before
emerging from junctions".

MAG Ireland (Irish Motorcyclist's Action Group) was set up in 1985 and
represents the interests of Ireland's 40,000 motorcyclists, scooterists and
moped users.

Areas tackled by MAG Ireland include road safety, training, road
conditions, technical harmonisation, tax issues, consumer issues affecting
riders, licencing and insurance.

MAG Ireland offers a wide range of benefits to its membership of over four
thousand riders including discounts at many retail outlets and events, a
subscription to Ireland's

largest circulation motorcyclist magazine, a health insurance scheme and
information service.

For further information contact

Karen Kiely
National Campaigns Officer
+ 353 1 453 07 97
campaigns@magireland.org
MAG Ireland
1b Ring Terrace
Inchicore
Dublin 8
Republic of Ireland