Tim Kelly – Chair
When Ride to Review was first established in 2015, Tim had just bought his first motorcycle, a 2011 650 Ninja RL and had been only riding for 5 months.
His involvement with Ride to Review came out of his offer to build the website and develop the social media side of Ride to Review which feel into his domain speciality, of IT and his passion for exploring the possibilities of digital advocacy.
As a result of building the website and his determination to build a credible argument for ECE helmets, Tim devoted his time to learning about the intricacies of helmet laws and helmet safety. From this, his research quickly lead him down a path from which he could not ignore, and using his IT skills to pull data from multiple sources, he was able to undertake and complete world first research by comparing identical helmet models built to different standards, which confirmed what many already knew, AS1698 helmets were heavier than their ECE counterparts, but most notable in the research, the weight difference realised was great enough to push AS1698 helmets pass the 1500gm weight threshold which research has shown was a notable indicator for Basilar Skull Fractures, a common injury which can severely injure and even kill motorcyclists.
This article was picked up both nationally and internationally and gave a credible science based position for why ECE helmets should be legalised, in not only South Australia, but across Australia.
Following on from this research, and via the power of social media and group collaboration, Tim was able to secure a meeting with the State Opposition and on the basis of this research and the community support of Ride To Review, the State Liberals announced their support for ECE Helmets and undertook steps to introduce this legislation in Parliament.
With a bill now before parliament and still no specific date given for implementation by the State Government, and with nearly all other States having implemented ECE legislation, Tim once again, took to research to shore up public opinion and the need for this legislation in SA by undertaking a review of the current helmet legislation.
From this a new paper was produced to demonstrate that helmet laws in South Australia had not progressed for almost a decade and that existing laws were both out of date and dangerous. The resulting paper was released in a co-ordinated approach to ministers and media. Less than 48hrs later, the State Government announced it would introduce ECE legislation into SA.
Once ECE legislation was introduced in South Australia, Tim then turned his focused towards the second major goal for Ride to Review, Lane Filtering, and like his first 2 papers, he chose to take a scientific approach which required him to once again, put on his IT hat and pull down all the crash data currently recorded for SA roads.
He then spent the next several months crunching the numbers and from that, formulated a position which demonstrated the rear end collisions involving motorcyclists were increasing over time and that lane filtering laws could reduce this trend should the recommendations from the paper presented, be implemented.
This paper was than presented internally to a number of state and national motorcycling bodies which endorsed the paper and it was presented to the State Road Safety Minister in late 2016. Shortly after, the Minister announced his support for Lane Filtering and the introduction of this legislation which included a number of Ride To Review endorsed recommendations (such as allowing riders not required to display an L or P plate to filter).
With Lane Filtering out of the way, ECE legal and the third goal of simplified control rules having already come into place, Tim then went to work on the next major goal for Ride to Review, it’s incorporation.
Whilst doing this, Tim become aware of a rider being issued a caution warning for wearing a helmet cam, and utilising the media and political contacts he has formed during his time at Ride to Review, he was able to get a story into the news went subsequently went viral and garnished close to 1 million views across Australia.
On the back of that, Tim was contacted by the State Liberals whom expressed an interest in once again, working with Ride to Review and developing a bill which could be introduced in State Parliament which would once and for all, clarify and legalise the use of helmet cams in South Australia… and this process is still ongoing.
Beyond this, and following the death of one of his closet riding buddies, Tim also made it a personal goal of his to see the construction guidelines for roadside barriers changed to ensure that supporting posts do not exceed the height of the beam, a factor contributing to his friends death, and in 2017, his was provided confirmation from the State government these guidelines had been updated to reflect that.
Outside of his duties with Ride to Review, Tim is a passionate motorcyclist with no sense of direction and has been known to repeatedly get lost whilst leading group rides. Additionally, when time permits, he will organise and host learner friendly rides which provide both a safe environment for new riders to ride within a group whilst at the same time, receiving mentoring from more experience riders.
Tim has taken up the role of Chair to further improve the outcomes for motorcyclists in South Australia which history has shown, have not been fairly represented, both in government and the established advocacy space.
Judith Kuerschner – Public Officer
With a background in teaching and 20 years as a Career Practitioner, Judith Kuerschner has a focus on road safety and education and training for road users that reflect competence rather than compliance, along with the need for national consistency in road policy and legislation.
Judith’s passion for road safety and driver/rider education was initiated, as is often the case, by experiencing the tragedy of road fatality. From this horrific experience her desire to prevent others from such tragedy was ignited.
The similarities between career education and road safety are surprisingly many – both are skill driven, have major impacts on quality of life, major impacts on the nation’s economy and are both areas largely left to the instruction of parents who are likely to be instructing with outdated information and skills themselves. Both are areas the government claims to be greatly concerned about, yet few real inroads and initiatives are funded for the long term benefit of the nation.
As a motorcyclist, and now Can Am Spyder rider, Judith has a keen interest in ensuring that all vulnerable road users are given equal consideration in road safety policy and practice, that freedom of association is unhindered because of lifestyle, and transport, choices, and that personal responsibility is adopted over the current practice of extensive government interference.
Taking up the role of Public Officer for Ride To Review Incorporated, Judith brings her years of experience involved with professional associations to ensure that meetings are conducted according to protocol and that transparency is maintained through accurate record keeping.
Treasurer
Position Vacant
Secretary
Position Vacant