06/05/03 Immediate Release
Immediate Release
MAG IRELAND QUESTIONS HIBERNIAN INSURANCE REPORT
View New Law Proposed Changes
MAG Ireland, the association representing Ireland's moped, scooter and motorcycle
riders, is extremely concerned at the recent reported proposals from the Department
of Transport and Hibernian Insurance.
While improving motorcycle safety is one of MAG Ireland's major concerns
- to this end MAG Ireland established the Irish Rider Training Association
to provide a network of highly qualified instructors - the proposals which
have been
put forward are draconian and unjust, and fail to address the real issues.
The insurance industry's own figures state that in 75% of collisions between
motorcycles and other vehicles, the rider of the motorcycle is not to blame;
yet riders, as well as being forced to accept extortionate premiums, are now
being targeted for severe legislative restrictions.
MAG Ireland chairman Eoin Kirwan said: "Irish motorcyclists already
endure the most restrictive licensing regime in Europe - raising the age limit
for a motorcycle licence would be further discrimination and contravene EU
directives. Given the fact that car insurance for younger drivers is unaffordable,
if they cannot obtain a motorcycle licence their ability to
travel for employment or study purposes will be severely curtailed."
He went on: "It is no wonder that the number of provisional licences
in Ireland is so high when there is practically no enforcement of the existing
law, and this is applicable to drivers of all classes of vehicle. The driving
test, for both cars and motorcycles needs to be reformed and lengthy waiting
lists must be eliminated. The current motorcycle test is
particularly inadequate and must be changed to a 'pursuit' format, with the
tester riding a motorcycle rather than driving a car."
"Motorcyclists are too often the innocent victims of another road user's mistake, and the overall extremely low standard of driving in this country needs radical improvement. Penalty points will only go so far when many road users simply do not know the rules of the road."
MAG Ireland calls for the following:
* Driving test reform to eliminate excessive waiting lists and introduce a European-style test for motorcyclists.
* Compulsory basic training for all road users before obtaining their first provisional licence.
* Enforcement of the existing driver licensing laws for all classes of vehicle.
* Introduction of L-plates for motorcycle provisional licence holders.
* Introduction of Direct Access motorcycle licensing into Ireland, which requires training to be taken before the granting of a large motorcycle licence.
* The theory test and practical test for car drivers to reinforce the importance of awareness of motorcyclists as vulnerable road users.
* The rapid introduction of an updated 'Rules of the Road' booklet, which is currently more than ten years out of date.
MAG Ireland's campaigns officer, Karen Kiely, said: "Successive governmentshave
ignored the issue of road safety. While Minister Brennan has introduced some
much-needed reform, there is still a great deal to be done, and knee-jerk
proposals such as we have seen recently are not the answer. While we in MAG
Ireland do all we can to encourage motorcyclists to ride
responsibly and take training, we need an improvement in the behaviour of
all road users to reduce the death toll of vulnerable road users, which include
cyclists and pedestrians as well as motorcyclists."
-ENDS-
Background:
MAG Ireland (Irish Motorcyclist's Action Group) was set up in 1985 and
represents the interests of Ireland's 30,000 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.
Karen Kiely
National Campaigns Officer
+ 353 1 453 07 97
campaigns@magireland.org
email: campaigns@magireland.org>
MAG Ireland
1b Ring Terrace
Inchicore
Dublin 8
Republic of Ireland