Motorcycles Overseas - A Cautionary and Tragic Incident.

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Renato1

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The following article at the ABC site states,
"Mr French's family said his medical treatment was not covered under his travel insurance because he didn't have an Australian motorbike licence."

'Such a loved person': Popular food truck man dies after Thai scooter accident

I somehow doubt that all the hundreds of Aussies I saw hiring scooters in Bali last year had Aussie Motorbike licences, but I could be wrong.
Regards,
Renato
 
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It's a bit rough since you don't need a motorbike licence to ride a scooter in Australia.
 
It's a bit rough since you don't need a motorbike licence to ride a scooter in Australia.

Since when? We aren't talking "mobility scooters"..these are on road machines licensed exactly the same way as motorbikes.....

If you look at motorbike/scooter hire in other parts of the world (Ive been checking Europe) the websites state (usually) "2 years licensed".... I can understand why that is not the case in Indonesia...but don't these people THINK at all? When I went Skydiving overseas (coincidentally in Indonesia) I checked insurance options very carefully... (and I was a licensed parachutist)
 
You used to be able to ride < 50CC on a car licence. Things may have changed I guess.
 
It's a bit rough since you don't need a motorbike licence to ride a scooter in Australia.
Pretty sure if you're driving a motorised vehicle, bike, scooter on the road, you need a license.

Very sad for this family.

Edit. Mobility scooters are suppose to be on the foot path.
 
Ah, in QLD, SA, WA, NT you can ride a scooter under 50cc on a full driving licence. For ACT, NSW, TAS & VIC you need a scooter/bike licence.

I grew up in SA, didn't realise this was not a national rule.
 
This is such an awful and tragic situation, but it happens time and time again - especially in Asian countries. People from all over the world who do not ride scooters or motorbikes in their home country believe that the best time to start their riding career is in another country on scooters that may or may not be well maintained. For the life of me I cannot understand it. It's a frying pan to fire situation and challenging at the best of times, especially when (in many Asian countries) you are at fault even if you are not. We've seen so many people with 'Thai tattoos' from riding accidents.

My partner and I both hold Australian motorcycle licences. We've learnt how to ride, what to watch for, how to deal with emergency situations and we've ridden motorcycles in Australia for many years. That experience has proven invaluable when we've ridden scooters overseas, but even then we really do have to pay close attention to our surroundings - and the rules that govern our travel insurance. So many riders choose to wear inappropriate clothing - let alone a helmet - and all insurance policies insist on this if you want to be covered! Don't get me started on the drinking and riding side!

I really do feel for the families of people who are severely or fatally injured from scooter accidents and are left to pick up the tab of a lapse in judgement. It's stressful, traumatic and (in many cases) financially devastating. I'm a firm believer that if you do not hold a licence to ride in your own country, under no circumstances should you ride in another country. Given the increase in claims, maybe the travel insurance companies need to state this in bold right at the top of the policy - then there can be no excuse for ignorance.
 
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