Front number plates - is the battle really over?

The debate over front number plates on motorcycles has been raging for what seems like eternity. But articles published in major reputable newspapers in the last week report that the plan has finally - and quietly - been put to bed.

Both The Australian and The Herald Sun have reported that the plan to mount number plates on the front of motorcycles has been scrapped after a study conducted by VicRoads found that there was no satisfactory way of fixing registration plates to the front of a motorcycle.

Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas was quoted as saying that “(This is) basically due to safety issues around the airflow and stability of motorcycles” and that “VicRoads was unable to develop one single model that could be applied to all motorcycles.”

If the plan had been launched in Victoria other Australian states were certain to implement the plan as well.

VicRoads found that there was no satisfactory way of fixing registration plates to the front of a motorcycle.

The study, run over 5 years at a cost to taxpayers of $420,000, was ordered by the Australian Transport Council in response to a request from all State Police Commissioners in 2000. The authorities have been frustrated with not being able to identify a motorcycle from the front, and the ability of motorcyclists to avoid being caught by speed and red light cameras as a result.

The opposing argument used by the motorcycling community has always been one of safety. Front plates were removed from motorcycles almost 30 years ago due to injuries to riders and pedestrians and because the plates affected air flow and steering. Modern motorcycles are far more compact and complex, further adding to the difficulty in finding a suitable mounting system. So to most people in the motorcycling community the result of the study is no surprise, and based on the safety issues put forward scrapping the plan seems like a sensible decision.

With the safety side of the debate now settled most motorcyclists can breath a sigh of relief, but it would appear that the “victory” may be short lived for those that blatantly break the law.

The Australian reports that the Standing Committee on Transport decided in March not to proceed with the idea of front number plates but handed responsibility to the Queensland government to investigate electronic methods of identifying motorcycles from the roadside. Dual lens speed cameras that can take front and rear pictures are also being considered.

Some motorcycling groups have seen the push for front number plates purely as a revenue raising venture, and with governments and the media making statements that state governments are missing out on an estimated $2million a year each in revenue it’s easy to see why they would draw those conclusions.

.. it’s only a matter of time before a suitable system is found ..

The fact remains though that the same laws apply regardless of whether a person is riding a motorcycle or driving any other vehicle, and if you break the law you can expect to get caught and punished. Granted, we all make mistakes at times, but it is the riders that take advantage of their inability to be identified that are obviously of greatest concern and frustration to the authorities.

With the general perception being that motorcyclists are unable to be caught by current methods and stories in the media of riders flaunting their immunity by deliberately speeding past cameras or even covering rear number plates to avoid detection, it’s no wonder that a reliable system of identifying offending motorcyclists is so eagerly sought by police and road safety groups.

It’s not impossible, and only a matter of time before a suitable system is found. And as usual it’s not the majority that are being targeted. While I agree that the idea of front number plates was a bad one, I think that most responsible riders will accept a system of identifying a motorcycle by some means that does not impact on safety, performance and, of course, the appearance of the motorcycle.

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