Queensland, Australia gets tougher on new motorcycle enthusiasts
By the Staff of Clutch and Chrome
November 15th, 2008
Finding the
freedom of an open road on two-wheels could be a little more
difficult for some would-be Australian motorcycle
enthusiasts next year.
As with
Europe, some Australian legislators are looking to tougher
restrictions on new riders coming into the motorcycle world,
following a study conducted last year. The changes, to come
into effect from July 1 next year, will restrict new riders
to less powerful motorcycles and prohibit them from
consuming any alcohol while riding.
In the past
only new riders under the age of twenty-five faced
zero-alcohol restrictions, with those older allowed to have
up to the legal 0.05 limit. Also, the law that restricted
new riders to motorcycles of 250cc engine size will be
expanded to an approved list that takes power-to-weight
ratio into account.
"Given the
significant increase in fatalities from motorcycle crashes,
it's clear that we need to rethink our licensing system,"
Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh said, "The evidence that
many older people are starting to ride motorcycles and their
inexperience is contributing to serious injuries and
fatalities, we can't ignore that."
New riders
face the restrictions for one year before going onto an
unrestricted license allowing them to ride any motorcycle
and fall under the regular traffic laws. |
