HONDA AUSTRALIA:

In light of the various state based motorcycle safety awareness campaigns recently launched prior to the summer road riding season, Honda Australia has reiterated the need for obtaining appropriate training and advice.

According to Honda Motorcycle’s General Manager, Tony Hinton, the manufacturer 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, you will substantially increase your ability to stay safe on the road.”

The program works by a Safety Adviser being on hand at the point of purchase to provide interested customers with information about riding courses available, the right gear to wear, where to ride, the kinds of things to watch out for on the road, and much more.

Honda also provides a computer-driven ride simulator within the Dealership that offers a virtual ride experience in various environments, and introduces the rider to basic control skills and hazard perception. The simulator has been in use at all Honda Australia Rider Training (HART) centres for quite some time as a training aid.

“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,” Mr Hinton said.

“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.”

HSAs are located in the majority of metropolitan Dealerships, as well as selected regional Dealerships nationally.