Honda Australia stands up to TAC’s motorcycle scare tactics
November 10, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Fed up with a number of new “scare tactics” advertising campaigns about motorcyclists, Honda Australia is instead emphasising the importance of appropriate training and riding advice in the lead up to summer.
Honda Motorcycles general manager Tony Hinton says his company is working overtime to educate both current riders as well as those who have an interest in motorcycling but have never done anything about it.
“Earlier this year we launched the Honda Safety Advisor (HSA) program through our authorised motorcycle dealerships which is proving to be a very popular initiative.”
“Unfortunately, a lot of the state road authority advertising around right now is using scare tactics that imply motorcycle riders will probably get hurt one way or another.”
“Our philosophy is that if you get the right guidance early on in the process through a program such as HSA, coupled with riding skills training from a reputable organisation such as HART (Honda Australia Rider Training), you will substantially increase your ability to stay safe on the road.”
Safety advisors are on hand in the majority of metropolitan dealerships as well as selected regional nationally.
They are trained to provide information to interested customers about riding courses, the right gear to wear, where to ride and what to watch out for on the road, among other things.
“Riders need to make decisions that reduce their level of risk, and the best way to make sure they have thought of everything is to talk to an experienced person from within the industry,” said Mr Hinton.
Honda also provides a computer-driven ride simulator within selected dealerships that offers a virtual ride experience in various environments and introduces the rider to basic control skills and hazard perception.
“We are encouraging anyone with an interest in motorcycling to come have a go on the simulator and have a chat to the safety advisor at their participating dealer.”
To watch the TAC’s new ad, see below:
In related news, numerous motorcycle industry training groups in the UK have merged to form the Motorcycle Industry Trainers Association (MCITA).
The MCITA says the merger will provide a larger, single voice for trainers and allow them to better serve the practical and representative requirements of the industry now and into the future.
Chairman of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) Tara Glen welcomed the move.
“If the training industry is to respond successfully to the challenges ahead, maintain commerciality and drive improving rider safety standards, addressing the future as a larger single representative voice is essential and the MCI is proud to be able to lead this merged organisation,” she said.
by Tim Beissmann
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Very good initiative, and about time.
People considering buying a motorcycle would just give up after watching those TV ads that are supposed to “instruct” people. They are just plain scary and don’t teach anything. The message is simply “if you ride a motorcycle you will die in an accident, sooner or later”.
After just watching one of those ads, I would say that showing a montage of people taking risks can’t be called anything but scare tactics. There is no educational or information value in the ad AT ALL.
But i’m guessing there real aim is to shock. In that case… well done. Goal met.
I think the “education” element in the new ads is inferred.
If you’re on a motorbike – you probably take risks.
You probably do it every time you ride.
Seeing the risk for what is really is (ie, taking a step back and thinking about it) is not something anyone does regularly, but this ad gives us all that perspective.
And you better believe it is shocking… because on a bike it is only a matter of time until one of those little risks turns into a world of life changing (or life ending) hurt.
Drivers make mistakes that endanger motorcyclists all the time, and that sucks. But there’s TOO MANY incidents of motorcyclists doing dumb things and wiping themselves off too. Tiny risks can equate to immense loss, hurt and pain.
I applaul these ads. I hope motorcyclists get shocked. And I hope they don’t forget the potential consequences they’ve seen when they next get on a bike.
I’ve been to one too many funerals because of this kind of behaviour. I don’t want to go to anymore if it can be helped.
Yeah. I agree whole heartedly. I never knew that I was taking risks when I ride my bike. The fact that I could get hurt if I fall off is also news to me. How lucky I am that the TAC produces such hugely informative ads to let me know what a prat I am for riding a bike. I will now hang up the helmet, buy a camry and make sure the radio is tuned into the gardening show on AM radio.
bryn you’re not getting the point – its a REMINDER of how dangerous it CAN be depending on the factors around you. It is NOT focused just on the rider, but also cars and other things going on around you.
To be honest, as a driver and rider, I find it annoying as hell when I’m driving and bikes seem to think that just because they can get through a slot or fit next to a car, they’ll do it – and that’s in reasonable moving traffic!
I’ve got enough other people’s incompetent driving that I have to be alert of, that the last thing I need to worry about is if there is a bike ON my own lane next to me who’s lane splitting (and don’t use “you can hear the bike” as an excuse – its not the point). If i did knock someone off in that scenario, other than the initial shock of “wtf just happened”, i’ll be over it in 5 seconds because its their fault. Call me a selfish man, but its no different then putting your hand in a box of snakes and wondering if it will bite you.
The point the commercial is trying to make is to be aware of your surroundings, dont split lanes, dont ride without protective clothing, and dont speed – why? because it increases your RISK OF INJURY (and some are also breaking the law which they don’t even mention!). So its education in the form of common sense, which alot of riders seem to lack.
Sorry for the lengthy discussion, but similar to NacaYoda, I know too many people who have been injured as riders, some from their own stupidity and others from factors they cant control.
I think the point bryn is trying to make is that riders know the risks, they know what could happen on the road, and they can imagine the potential consequences. Its just that there are some idiots out there that choose to ignore that. This ad won’t change that. Hence its fairly useless.
As a rider that has the dubious honour of having had two crashes, both due to my own error (running wide in a corner through failing to notice the tightening radius, and not seeing a spot of oil on a roundabout in the wet), all I can do is have a think about the incident, what went wrong and what I could have done to prevent it, learn from it and then get back on my bike and continue on. I don’t need the TAC to try and scare me off my bike by telling me the blatantly obvious message that doing stupid sh*t can get you killed, when they could be spending that advertising money on rider training and useful information to improve riders skills.
I can’t imagine any rider who would honestly not be aware of the risk of motorcycling, but I can think of a few riders that are aware and don’t give a sh*t, and this ad won’t change their minds one iota.
Honda has the right of it, rather than just bashing riders heads with ‘if you ride one day you will be seriously injured or killed’, how about some helpful information and a broadening of motorcycle training systems.
I’m wondering if this was posted on the wrong site? was it meant for the bikeadvice page instead?
As a motorcycle rider, I actually think that that add is not too bad.
Riding is simply exhilirating and massive fun. There is nothing like riding a nice windy road within your limits. The sense of achievement, camaraderie and sense of fun is like no other.
However…
Riding a bike IS risky. (yes, I have crashed)
Having an off WILL hurt – often a lot.
I see far too many idiots riding around in t shirts
You can go from being healthy to being a paraplegic in the blink of an eye. Worse, it might not be your fault. There are a million ways to come off.
Motorcycle riding is dangerous. You are taught (and should always) be constantly on the lookout for danger and ride defensively and use the full space of your lane to anticipate and avoid danger.
Ive seen too many idiots riding the old Pacific Highway and the putty road like they are at a race track, scraping the pegs etc. The worse thing I saw was an idiot on a super sports overtaking a learner rider on the outside around a hair pin corner.
Maybe this add might remind people of their mortality?
I respect people who ride safely and within their limits. I’m sure those people would have no issue whatsoever with this add and see it targeted at the idiots who you see being scraped off the road and wrapped around a tree on a Saturday morning. An all too common occurrence in the Royal National Park.
I hate it how the Vic Government mandates that “Electronic Stability Control must be installed on every new car sold in Victoria”. When Motorbikes have no seatbelts, no airbags, no ESC, ABS, or anything!
It doesnt make sense. If I want to buy a cheap new car with no ESC, then I should be allowed to since motorbikes are allowed on the roads!
I agree. The safety standards for motorcycle engineering at the point of sale are way behind cars. Take ABS as an example, some imports it isn’t an option.
While the ads do infer motorcycling is all about accidents, I have friends who skin has literally been saved by seeing the ads and actually buying gear. Secondly, all riders know you’ve either just had an accident or on the way to having one – well at least the ones with brains and responsibility for themselves and the entire road community.
Zumbella, what planet are you on? Riders with Brains know they are on the way to having an accident????
I’m a rider, with a brain. I wear the correct gear ALL the time (full leathers, helmet, leather gloves, leather boots). I check my bike before EACH ride, I check the lights, brakes, tyres and pressure. It is well maintained and everything is kept in tip top shape. I am focussed on the road and my surroundings when I am riding because of the fact that if I crash it WILL hurt. I take more care on the road than most other vehicle drivers. I ride within mine and the bikes limits.
Why am I on the way to an accident? Just because I ride a bike does not make me an idiot. It’s idiots with no sense of anything other than their own little sheltered world that are the problem.
TAC and our Government increase the danger of motorcycists face every day. They support the wire cheesgraters on the side of the road, and the put bloody stupid billboards up on the side of the road telling us that if we slow down we wont die.
Newsflash idiots. People die because they crash into things… not because they are doing 102km/h in a 100km/h zone. Yet the government and TAC want to put more hard, immovable objects right on the side of the road.
Motorcyclists would be better served by TAC spending our extra rego fees on making leathers mandatory, same for rider training courses, and looking into why motorcyclists are dying on the roads.
The blanket reason of speeding is wearing thin and is total crap! Not everyone who dies on the road is exceeding the speed limit. Yet that is what they would have you believe.
well once i get my car i think i’ll go get me a bike/ scooter. i saw a scooter gang in town, looks like a lot of fun
So what! I have no sympathy at all for those who ride motorbikes, and the accidents that occur. Its strange how the responsibility for so long has been aimed at drivers (of cars) and blame put on bad roads etc.
While these might be factors of making riding a bike harder, it is not the general cause of motorbike accidents.
I have never seen – and I am sure so many of you will say you do, and rubbish is all I can say – any motorcyclist ride within the road rules. So, those who ride motorbikes are there own worst enemy, so lets stop wasting tax payer money on rubbish commercials and advertising and just leave it to natural selection. If you ride like a wan*er, then natural selection will take care of you.
If those who ride bikes want some sympathy from others on the road, and the public in general then start riding within the rules. I bet if you do, accidents will drop by 90% overnight. If you don’t believe me, prove me wrong!
Get a life, most of these ‘rules’ are created by career-serving public servants who wouldnt know the first thing about riding a bike or driving a car for that matter.
Or perhaps we should not question the laws created by politicians who are all cheauffer driven and never expierence the frustration of driving on a modern Australian road, heck the SA premier Mike Rann doesnt even have an Australian drivers licence.
If blindly obeying the road rules saved lives, then we would have the lowest fatality rate in the world, as Australia has some of the most stringest traffic enforcement with the lowest speed limits and the most strictest road rules of any country on the planet – instead this blindly following the road rules approach is making drivers complacent, frustrated, inattentive and therefore dangerous.
I could be like the average Aussie and have the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ of wishing harm on people who dont ‘follow the rules’, instead I respect the freedoms of people and dont think that a motorcyclist who splits lanes or parks on a footpath warrants losing their life.
Ohhh I know those pesky road rules – why should we have any of them! I mean, what cheek the government has to enforce wearing helmets, making bikers where Australian standard helmets – and enforcing it. Making it illegal to ride up between stationary cars, parking/stopping in front of traffic at lights, speed limits. I know, how rude of them.
While some road rules may be, or just seem stupid, their there for a reason. So the fact they are there means that they need to be followed. No matter how much people – like you, don’t like them.
I think you may have missed the whole point of what “the tall poppy syndrome” means, however, should a motorcyclist switch lanes in an unsafe manner, at the speeds most bikes are capable of and they lose their life then fine with me. Just like 21 yr old’s who drive boy racer cars and wrap themselves around lamp posts, big deal! Drive safe, ride safe, be safe and obey the rules and you are less likely to wind up dead. Might not always be the case, yet tends to be the case more often that not.
I ride bikes and drive cars, and given the dangers, I make no apologises for those who die on their bikes – bikers need to stop blaming others, and start taking responsibly for their own actions, sadly its like the rest of society, blame others, blame the rules – as you do, and don’t worry about your own actions.
The unfortunate thing, Bob, is that you represent the bulk of the car driving comunity… ie that anyone else on the road is the problem because they are not in a car. It is the same selfish attitude that you extend to Push bike riders, Caravans, trucks and Busses. Sad times.
If you watch the add, sure it shows the stupidity of some riders, but in a small section it highlights the greater danger to all cyclists. Notice the taxi door open without looking? the pedestrian stepping straigh out from behind a parked car? The Suzuki 4×4 changing lanes on top of (admittedly faster moving) rider? It is parts that need to be highlighted as well. BRA ran a very successful campaign years ago (in conjunction with rider training) of “look right, look left, look bike” in an effort to reduce the above incidences that are the major cause on URBAN cyclist incidences.
Safety First, that’s where your wrong. I ride bikes. I don’t blame cars should I act like a fool on the road. I don’t see anyone disputing that motorcyclists act like fools on the road.
As for bike riders (push bikes), that is a different story. They don’t pay any registration to be on the road, take more risks on the road than anyone else, and are NOT capable of riding to the road conditions.
If you want drivers to be more aware of bikers (any kind) then they need to drive/ride a little safer – well a lot safer. For a start, and irrespective for the reason – for the accident – riding a bike in thongs, shorts and shirt is just plain suicide! The risks of being on a bike and having an accident are high, as I say, irrespective of the reason for it, yet why would anyone want to actually make the chances of dying higher? Fools! If you ride your bike at extremely high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic and as a motorist moves lanes and takes out a biker then I don’t think the biker has anyone to blame other than themselves! I don’t see to many cars merge into other cars? I don’t see to many cars merge into motorcyclists who keep their distance and ride safely.
As I mentioned before, if more motorcyclists road safely and not expected everyone else to be watching for them while they ride like fools then most of the accidents would not happen.
Cyclists – of any type need to be responsible. Which, sadly, they are not.
great attitude Bob.
Should all pedestrians who walk against a red light be killed? What about pushbike riders who don’t wear a helmet or aren’t riding in the correct position on the road? Should they be killed too?
A for motorcyclists never riding within the rules, you need to stop watching TV and get out a bit.
About politicians having no idea. Well, the current Premier of NSW, Nathan Rees has no car licence, prior to him Morris Iemma did, prior to him, Bob Carr – premier for 11 years – no car licence.
Carr was also the first person booked in the state under ‘tough new seatbelt laws’. Perhaps I should say his driver was…
Kudo’s to Honda for standing up to the standover tactics of the various government agencies.
Some riders are responsible some aren’t.
Same goes for drivers.
Riders pose minimal risk to others, but maximal risk to themselves.
Riders should not lane split through an intersection… too many drivers decide its a perfect place to change lanes.
Nationwide about a quarter of the public dont know lane changing etiquette. This is a greater problem
I once heard a quote;
Those who prefer safety to freedom deserve neither.
Motorcycle caused f-ups are caused less by splitting or speeding or not wearing a helmet, and more by excitable riders with bikes bigger than their abilities..
Seriously, when was the last time you saw any of these ‘responsible’ bike riders doing anything under 20kmh over the speed limit?
We used to call them ‘temporary Australians’ in the 70’s.
I notice they go all nice and within speed limits around cop cars.
Agreed – and its soo sooooo soooooo tempting when they’re lane splitting and you see them coming in your rear view mirror to move right in front of them or knock them off as they approach. Some of them should consider themselves lucky that I have half a heart, and i’m actually one of the drivers who can see them coming in their rear view mirror. One of these days, they wont be so lucky.