Province of Nova Scotia Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Petition

This is a Petition to be presented to the Government of Nova Scotia, on behalf of the Nova Scotia Motorcycling Community and Concerned Citizens, to improve Motorcycle Safety and Awareness on all roadways within our beautiful Province.

The Nova Scotia Motorcycling Community is an active and vibrant part of our Society and is growing in numbers each year.  Presently, there are more than 27,000 motorcyclists in Nova Scotia.  Motorcyclists come from all segments of our Society and most Motorcycle Clubs, Groups, and Organizations are Charity driven, with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised each year in Nova Scotia for various Charities, directly resulting from the efforts of the Motorcycle Community and their supporters.

The Nova Scotia Motorcycling Community is also responsible for the influx of  thousands of Tourists into our Province each year and millions of dollars into the economy through major events such as the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby and the Thunder in the Highlands BikeFest on Cape Breton Island.

With the annual increase in numbers of motorcycles on our roads, the incidents of accidents resulting in life altering injury and death appear to increase as well.  This is a serious situation that can be reversed and we believe it is not only the responsibility of the Motorcycle Community, but of the Government of Nova Scotia as well, to take measures to ensure our roadways are safer.

In view of the foregoing, we, the Members of the Motorcycling Community and Concerned Citizens, have signed this Petition to implore the Government of Nova Scotia to accept the following recommendations:

 

To provide and publish Public Service Announcements promoting Motorcycle Safety and Awareness, to be aired throughout the riding season (April 1st through December 1st)

 

To provide and install triangle shaped signage, yellow with black lettering, along our roadways, stating “Watch for Motorcycles”.  This will serve as a reminder to drivers to be more observant and riders to be more diligent.

 

To track rider experience and training of those motorcyclists involved in reportable accidents to determine the future requirements of Motorcycle Training.  This can be accomplished by amending the Accident Report Forms utilized by Police throughout the Province.

 

To incorporate more information regarding Motorcycle Safety and Awareness in the Drivers handbook for new drivers and include question(s) relating to Motorcycle Safety and Awareness in the written test for drivers of all vehicle classes.

 

To erect large signs at the entry point to the Province, yellow with black lettering, stating “Look Twice – Save A Life   Motorcycles Are Everywhere”.   This will notify visitors to our Province that motorcycle traffic is abundant and visiting Riders will readily see that we are a Motorcycle Friendly Province.

 

In respect to the Consultant’s report on the hazards prevalent along the Grand Lake Road area of Sydney, in particular the Grand Lake Road-Kytes Hill Drive locale, we request that efforts by made by the Province to hurry the submission of this report and engage in the immediate implementation of the recommendations in that report.   This area is under Provincial Jurisdiction and is the scene of a number of serious motor vehicle accidents and in particular two serious automobile/motorcycle collisions that have resulted in the death of one motorcyclist and the serious injury of the other, in recent months.

 

To recognize Bikers Down Society as the official Lobby Group for Motorcyclists in Nova Scotia.  This will provide a seasoned and responsible body of experienced Motorcyclists to liaison between the Government and Riding Community.