tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3657769617548683896.post428452245538412200..comments2022-04-05T13:52:46.895+10:00Comments on Two wheel thrive: Letter to TAC (2)Go Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01951216507436071293noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3657769617548683896.post-74239126782690019952012-05-13T12:51:47.632+10:002012-05-13T12:51:47.632+10:00Thanks Ross, you clearly have a way with words. Y...Thanks Ross, you clearly have a way with words. Your letter was very well written. It was clear and to the point. Riders are fortunate to have someone like you on their side. <br /><br />Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3657769617548683896.post-14566778100610160372012-05-12T14:02:42.834+10:002012-05-12T14:02:42.834+10:00It is actually pretty prevalent behaviour within a...It is actually pretty prevalent behaviour within a beauracracy, and while certainly disappointing, is not actually that surprising. It isn't surprising that pollies and govt agencies only really start to even notice what one is saying if it is an issue which is generating a great deal of media heat, especially close to election times...<br /><br />These people paid good money to consultants, so why would they need to listen to the uninformed public after all, what would they know?<br /><br />The problem we have here is manifold. Riders are a minority, and a pesky one at that as far as TAC is concerned because we cost more than other motorists - the fact that this is because we are more vulnerable is easy to overlook, and stereotypes of irresponsible riding behaviour certainly don't help any either.<br /><br />Minorities are almost never catered to well by govt and beauracracies, unless they are very well resourced, politically active, and seen as a threat in terms of influence in election times.<br /><br />Add to that the fact that a simplistic 'slow down, don't speed' message is much cheaper to manage than engaging in a more meaningful way, or acknowledging that this is a complex issue that may require a serious look at policy as well as education, licensing and training methods etc. and it quickly becomes too hard. 'Don't speed' is good for these guys - easy to promote, in line with what they say to cars, and if you don't pay attention to that message there is a nice little earner to govt revenue as well...<br /><br />I'm not confident that even a royal commision like inquiry into motorcycle safety would actually bring about meaningful change, but I'm fairly certain that anything less won't. :|<br /><br />Doesn't mean it isn't worth trying - just means it is likely to be a long hard road, with some tragic cases of 'We told you so' and 'If only you had listened sooner' underlined in the lives, pain and suffering of fellow riders before that change eventuates...<br /><br />Of course, I'm desparately hoping they prove me wrong... but I'm not holding my breath.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12212823200257377126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3657769617548683896.post-79765869429436446762012-05-12T09:01:45.811+10:002012-05-12T09:01:45.811+10:00I've just had a read over the presentation tha...I've just had a read over the presentation that the MRAV made to TAC after the last ad campaign, and the minutes of that meeting. I confess I was unsurprised when I was told that the MRA had tried to engage with TAC before and that they simply weren't listened to - after all, I've seen some of those MRA boys make a right hash of things in the past.<br /><br />But the document they prepared was actually very good. It brought out one theme very strongly - that riders are more likely to listen when the person talking to them is a fellow rider. They made several suggestions and offers of assistance on this front. All of which has been duly ignored in this latest campaign.<br /><br />It is hard not to draw conclusions of disingenuous behaviour at this point. A facade of communication, a charade of collaboration and welcoming feedback. It's all very disappointing indeed.Go Camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951216507436071293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3657769617548683896.post-20548862882595489842012-05-12T08:47:39.576+10:002012-05-12T08:47:39.576+10:00I'm sorry to say that this matches my attempts...I'm sorry to say that this matches my attempts to correspond with the TAC as well. I've had form letters that simply restate the website content (sometimes word for word) rather than any attempt to actually answer my questions. In the case of the faulty statistics used to generate the '38 times more likely' slogan, I pointed out to the caveats in the original study at Flinders University that stated the figures were not reliable and should be used with caution. In reply I was told that the ad was based on a world class study from Flinders University. Clearly they had not even read my letter. Very disappointing.Alihttp://agdaws.comnoreply@blogger.com