Front Plates suggested in WA now......

[alans1100]

My sis in WA just sent me this link. Seems the motorcycle statistics are a bit of a worry over there.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25469679/the-deadly-record-stalking-motorbike-riders/

Quote

So far this year, 35 motorcyclists or their passengers have been killed in crashes - just one fewer than the record highs of 36 in 2007 and in 2008.

Road Safety Council chairman Murray Lampard said WA needed a way to put numberplate identification on the front of motorbikes as a "proactive measure to remind motorcyclists that they are not above the law".

[Biggles]

An excuse to overcome a flaw in their revenue collecting mechanism- too many cameras only getting rear photos.
Having said that, I've seen quite a few infringement photos from WA (not mine) and they have all been rear number plates.

[Biggles]

I read the article and nothing in it would be any different if there were number plates on the front of the bike.
The unstated implication is that the majority of fatalities were due to illegal speeds that would stop if the fixed cameras could get an ID from the front. 
They fail to produce statistics showing what actually caused the deaths.  Any caused by right-turning cars?  Lane changing cars?  They do say it's up to the rider to avoid being hit by cars, but a number plate won't help with that.

[alans1100]

I like how they state that in 2007/8 that they had 36 and so far in 2014 they have 35. Might appear things are going backwards but I bet there's a lot more motorists/bikes on the road now than back in 2007/8 so percentage wise that's a reduction in my books but they don't like
putting that side of the equation out.

[Yorkie]

These figures for this year are also including the scooter crowd which is very popular but only need a car licence.

[Shaun]

  They do say it's up to the rider to avoid being hit by cars, but a number plate won't help with that.

Brilliant.
So it was up to me to defy physics and turn the 2m of buffer created when someone merged into my lane directly in front of me into viable stopping distance.
How thoroughly foolish of me.
And of the cops too, who clearly incorrectly assigned all blame to the car who merged into my lane, causing me to (avoidably, obviously) strike it.

[Gadget]

I read the article and nothing in it would be any different if there were number plates on the front of the bike.
The unstated implication is that the majority of fatalities were due to illegal speeds that would stop if the fixed cameras could get an ID from the front. 
They fail to produce statistics showing what actually caused the deaths.  Any caused by right-turning cars?  Lane changing cars?  They do say it's up to the rider to avoid being hit by cars, but a number plate won't help with that.

My thoughts exactly. 

[West Aussie Glen]

I read the article and nothing in it would be any different if there were number plates on the front of the bike.
The unstated implication is that the majority of fatalities were due to illegal speeds that would stop if the fixed cameras could get an ID from the front. 
They fail to produce statistics showing what actually caused the deaths.  Any caused by right-turning cars?  Lane changing cars?  They do say it's up to the rider to avoid being hit by cars, but a number plate won't help with that.

From what I have picked up the majority of motor bike fatalities in WA have been due to the idiot behind the handlebars.
Take a look here

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-15/four-motorcycle-deaths-in-wa-over-weekend-prompts-police-warning/5744186

I am fairly sure that the report I heard for the double fatality said only one of them was wearing a helmet.


And this from about 4 weeks ago.

"ANOTHER motorcyclist has been killed on WA roads with a rider killed in Beckenham this afternoon.

It marks a shocking 24 hours on WA roads with a series of fatal and serious crashes keeping emergency crews busy.

Today’s motorcycle fatality happened about 3.30pm today at the corner of William and Brixton Streets.

The rider came off their bike and died at the scene.

No details concerning the rider have been released.

Road closures are in place in the Beckenham area.

Today’s fatality comes less than 24 hours after another motorcyclist was killed in Cardup, near Byford about 5.55pm yesterday.

The 27-year-old rider of A black Harley Davidson was travelling south on Kargotich Road in Cardup when it collided with the back of a Mitsubishi Triton that was turning right on to Orton Road

The 27-year-old Baldivis man was taken to Armadale Hospital where he died a short time later."

 

[Biggles]

Thanks Glen.  Good examples of how a front number plate would have prevented the accidents.
Not.

It's the same knee-jerk reaction that says trotting out more speed cameras will save lives.  They certainly do within 500 metres of the departure side of them!

[West Aussie Glen]

With the number of speed cameras in Perth it may slow some down.
But I really don't understand the concern about having a front number (other than cosmetic).
I grew up with front number plates in NSW. Does any one know when they were dropped?
From memory they were still in use when I moved from NSW about 1976.

[Brock]

Front plates were dropped around 1980 in WA.

As the report says, they are trying to work out how to put front plates on again, and have been on and off for 20 Yrs. the problem is, that the shape of the bikes dont leave any where to fit one, as it has to be a one solution fits all.

They cant be retro fitted to the front guard, as that would affect bike handling and so on.   They can already take rear pics, so doesnt matter.

[Old Steve]

I remember front number plates on motorbikes in New Zealand, but that was a long time ago.

Double sided front plates were mounted on the front mudguard, their removal was a safety issue - hitting a pedestrian would turn the number plate into a meat slicer.

All I can say about the WA proposal is WTF?

I've been run into from behind by a motorbike, group ride and the following bike didn't expect me to stop at the stop sign, and if it'd had a front number plate on it then my leg would have been severely damaged.

I hope some lawyer establishes with the WA RTA that front number plates are a safety issue and that, having now been warned, the WA Govt is now liable for any injuries caused by the compulsory fitting of front number plates.

[Biggles]

An electronic tag was suggested in Queensland.  It would identify the bike to the camera as the photo was taken.

To be readable by a camera in front, the number plate would need to be across the fender at 90^o to it, and I can't see that happening.

[West Aussie Glen]

NSW front number plates were across the front mudguard not along it. These days I am sure the correct design (materials, shape, location) would eliminate any safety concerns.

[curious1]

NSW front number plates were across the front mudguard not along it. These days I am sure the correct design (materials, shape, location) would eliminate any safety concerns.

Don't give them any ideas about being save to put front plates on.