Motorcycle Riders Association of SA

Archived Articles for 2016 and prior

Welcome to the site of the Motorcycle Riders' Association of South Australia.
This page is an archive of selected articles from our home page up to and including 2016.

Returning Rider Course Announced - 15 September 2015

The MRASA is pleased to inform you the Minister for Road Safety has announced that the Rider Safe Returning Rider Course will be available from 26 September 2015. The Rider Safe Returning Rider Course is a voluntary course tailored for motorcycle licence holders who wish to refresh their riding skills. The course will be conducted primarily at the St Agnes and Murray Bridge Rider Safe training ranges with country courses operating subject to demand.

The MRASA has been a strong advocate for this course for many years. We have worked to put this on the Government agenda for a long time, years of efforts have finally come to fruition.

returning rider course

Motorcycle riders may be at greatest risk of being involved in a crash when they resume riding after an extended period of not riding, particularly if they are riding a more powerful or different style motorcycle than the one they used to ride in the past.

Although the number of motorcyclist serious road casualties has shown a downward trend, each year motorcyclists have become a larger part of serious road casualties - up from 11% in 2005 to 17% in 2014. It is likely that some of the people seriously injured were returning riders.

The course covers issues such as safe braking and cornering techniques, hazard perception, protective clothing, vehicle technology such as Antilock Braking Systems and responsibilities regarding carrying a pillion passenger. The course is conducted over half a day at the department's Rider Safe motorcycle training ranges and costs $116.

Here is a link to the Minister's news release.
Here is a link for more information about the about the Rider Safe Returning Rider Course.

MRASA Tips for Riders - 29 July 2014

MAC will be promoting a campaign in early September to coincide with the winter lay-off riders returning to the road - the 'seasonal riders' whose skills may be rusty or lacking. The MAC asked our road safety officer Neville Gray to provide '10 top tips' to go on their website and to be possibly promoted through other media.

Look for other road users that are not looking for you. Ride conspicuously and never in blind spots. Never assume that the other vehicle will stop.
Riders, unlike car drivers with aids such as air bags, collapsible steering columns and the stability of four wheels, only have their hazard perception and avoidance skills and their protective clothing to make them safer.
Always wear good quality protective clothing from your head to your feet. Protect your extremities with helmet, gloves and leg and arm protection in all weather conditions.
Most cars can stop quicker than most motorcycles especially in emergency situations. Therefore always keep a 3 second gap to the vehicle in front of you.
Always perform a head check before changing lanes. Just looking in your mirrors is not good enough.
It is vital to ride at a speed to suit the prevailing conditions. In bad weather, this could mean at a speed under the posted speed limit.
Riding under the influence of alcohol and drugs is plain suicidal. You need all of your faculties at a high level to successfully ride a motorcycle.
Don't forget the safety of your pillion as well as your own. They too need good protective clothing and be informed about the dynamics of a motorcycle and know how to assist by being a good pillion.
Never lend your motorcycle to riders who are unlicensed or inexperienced.
Intersections are high risk areas. Slow down when approaching an intersection and be ready to avoid a possible collision.