Leather up for safety

By CPL Mike McSweeney

ON YA BIKE: Dr Brendan Nelson and Australian Superbike champion Shawn Giles bond over a new motorcycle safety initiative.

Photo by LACW Kim Eager

A ROCK star and a race champion were among the scores of riders who took to the track on a range of bikes from Suzukis to Ducatis at the launch of the Defence Motorcycle Awareness Campaign.

Motorcyclist and Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson launched the $2 million campaign at the Sutton Road Driver Training Centre in Canberra on August 4.

Flanked by CDF ACM Angus Houston, Defence chiefs and motorcycle race teams, Dr Nelson said the initiative would include increased support for motorcycle training and communications resources for the ADF Motorcycle Association (ADFMA).

“What we are going to do is to invest almost $2 million over a three-year period in providing fully refundable accredited rider training,” he said.

“It means that if you’re a soldier, sailor or an airman and you want to ride a motorcycle, then the ADF will actually pay for you to undertake training.

“If you already ride, you can get advanced training and temporary leave to have that training.”

Dr Nelson said the campaign was aimed at protecting the ADF’s most important asset – it’s people.

“Throughout the ADF we’ve got about 5000 of our people that ride motorcycles. I’m very proud to say that I am one of them,” he said.

“We know about 100 of them a year are having accidents in one form or another. About a third of them are very serious and about five per cent of those accidents result in death.

“We believe that this (campaign) will make a positive difference to their lives, their security and safety, should they choose to ride a motorcycle.”

During the launch, Dr Nelson led a procession of bikers around the track, including Australian Superbike champ Shawn Giles, singer Sarah McLeod and ADFMA members.

He said more funds would be made available if required and he was proud to support the campaign.

“When I was first appointed to the portfolio six months ago, the CDF, and I must say the Chief of Army with particular enthusiasm, asked me if I would be prepared to be the sponsor of the riders’ safety initiative,” he said.

“Needless to say I thought about that for a nanosecond and said it would be a great privilege.”

Dr Nelson said motorists who had never ridden a motorcycle played an important role in motorcycle safety.

“I ask those people who drive cars throughout the country to appreciate that motorcyclists have as much right and deserve as much respect on the road as everybody else,” he said.

Although the application procedures are still being finalised for the accredited rider training, it is expected that applicants will need to fill out a PT076 Training or Development Activity Nomination form.

They would apply for Absent on Duty (instead of BRL) for a Motorcycle Skills Training Course, held at an accredited training provider.

Top tips from a champ
Appearing at the launch with his Suzuki GSX-R1000, three-time Australian Superbike Champion Shawn Giles offered a few pointers on safe motorcycling, including observation, awareness and dealing with the need for speed.

“Keep your eyes up, look ahead and virtually look right around you. Keep an eye on your mirrors,” he said.

“There’s not a time when I get on my bike that I don’t think ‘that car is going to pull out in front of me’. If you’re riding a motorcycle you’ve got to treat everyone as if they’re out to get you.

“If you want to go fast and experience how good your bike goes, do a track day. It’s a safe environment and it takes your aggression out on the track and takes your hunger for speed off the road.”

 For info on ADFMA see http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/ADFMA/.

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