To the Editor:
Earlier this year SGI formed a Motorcycle Review Committee, comprising members of the motorcycle community and impacted stakeholders, to review issues affecting motorcycle rates. SGI and the committee have now developed a package of ideas with an emphasis on saving lives and preventing injuries. While not every idea has the unanimous support of the committee, they agreed to put forward the options for public consideration.
Visit SGI's website at www.sgi.sk.ca/consultation to view the options up for discussion and provide feedback.
One of the first outcomes of the committee, announced in June, was the decision to move forward with a voluntary motorcycle usage-based insurance (UBI) pilot. SGI is now ready to accept volunteers for this pilot, and any interested riders can go to SGI's website at www.sgi.sk.ca/UBI for more information or to sign up. A thousand Saskatchewan motorcyclists are needed for the pilot, and participation is completely voluntary. SGI will provide an incentive to volunteers for their participation.
Working with the Motorcycle Review Committee was a valuable experience. There was excellent discussion and the committee members gave us better insight into issues affecting motorcycle riders. Though we had some different opinions at times, we ultimately share the same goal: to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes. Now we're asking for the public's input, whether you're a motorcyclist or not, to round out the review process.
Most of the ideas up for discussion are suggestions only - input from the public will determine what is taken forward to government. Some of the options include:
additional requirements for new riders, such as a basic skill and ability test to get a motorcycle learner's licence and strong incentives to take motorcycle training
additional mandatory gear for either new riders or all riders
changes to the Safe Driver Recognition program for motorcyclists
allowing motorcyclists to change their injury coverage
Although many of these options deal specifically with motorcycles, we all share the road and that means we're all responsible to help keep other road users safe. Motorcycles are smaller and can be harder to see than other vehicles, so drivers need to keep a special eye out for them, especially during the riding season.
There were also some changes SGI and the committee mutually agreed could be implemented without needing further public input since they are more administrative in nature. A list of these changes can be found online at www.sgi.sk.ca/consultation.
The options document will be available for public feedback until July 31, 2013. SGI will then prepare a report, based on all input gathered, to submit to government by fall.
Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO of SGI.
