Mick Doohan gives SA riders the biggest edge.

Home // News // Mick Doohan gives SA riders the biggest edge.

The Motor Accident Commission (MAC) today launched its newest motorcycle safety initiative supported by five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion, Mick Doohan.

MAC Chief Executive Officer, Jerome Maguire, said, motorcyclists can ‘get the edge’ by taking part in Mick’s online, rider safety competition to win a trip for two to the 2013 MotoGP, and a money can’t buy experience with the motorcycle legend.

“Entrants are required to answer a series of questions on riding safely, the answers to which can be found by navigating the educational content on MAC’s motorcycle safety pages,” Mr Maguire said.

“The new initiative is designed to help address commonly reported causes of motorcycle road trauma, in, excessive speed, lack of attention at intersections and poor rider preparation – such as not wearing appropriate protective clothing.

“103 people died on South Australian roads in 2011, of these 21 were motorcyclists.

“Last year there were also 222 Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance claims from motorcyclists, costing approximately $40 million,” Mr Maguire said.

Speaking about MAC’s new initiative, Mick Doohan, said, he wants motorcycle riders to get involved and enjoy the competition, but take notice of the important safety messages.

“Motorcycle riders are just so vulnerable but they can reduce their chances of being in a crash by heightening their knowledge and by the way they ride,” Mr Doohan said.

“Riders need to ‘treat intersections as black spots’, approach all intersections carefully and be ready to stop or take other evasive action.

“The right protective clothing can also make the difference between a nasty fall and injuries preventing them from ever riding again.

“And ‘the road is no place to race’. Race tracks are designed for just that – racing - and motorcyclists are not invincible on the road where there are so many dangers.

“It’s also really important that drivers play their part too. They need to be really aware of how exposed motorcycle riders are, and to look-out for them,” Mr Doohan said.

Anyone wanting to enter the competition needs to go to: www.mac.sa.gov.au/gettheedge, register their details and complete one or all of three challenges to enter the draw.