Media Release - October 2, 2006

Amy Gillett Foundation to fund cyclist research

To coincide with Victorian SafeCycle month, the Amy Gillett Foundation today announced a postgraduate research scholarship to help fill the void of information about the circumstances of bicycle crashes and interactions with other road users.

The scholarship position, based at the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) in Melbourne, is likely to focus on bicycle crashes and interactions with various classes of road users, particularly motorists and cyclists.

The Foundation established the Safe Family Research Scholarship (champion cyclist Amy Gillett’s maiden name was Safe) after commissioning a MUARC study into the characteristics of bicycle and motorist crashes. The study was based on crash data in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia between 2000 and 2004.

The study found that male cyclists aged 30 to 39 were at a high risk of being killed or injured in collisions on week days between 4-6pm.

The study also found large motor vehicles were most likely to be involved in a collision with a cyclist, with incidents most commonly occurring when cars made U-turns or entered or left parking places.

The General Manager of the Amy Gillett Foundation, Ms Melinda Jacobsen, said the data was consistent with the high numbers of commuting cyclists and motorists using the road simultaneously.

However, Ms Jacobsen said the study also demonstrated the huge void in the available information, which made it impossible to analyse the detailed causes of these accidents.

“So far this year, 11 Victorian cyclists have been killed on Victoria’s roads – more than double the toll for the same period last year. We need to know more about the circumstances under which cars and bicycles collide in order to prevent a further rise in this road toll,” she said.

The Director of MUARC, Professor Ian Johnston, said the Centre ensured its research findings were conveyed to governments, industry and the community in ways that facilitated maximum impact in policy and practice.

“A key feature of the way MUARC works is to build partnership with groups that can make a difference – this partnership is a an excellent way to address the issue of bicycling safety,” he said.

Applications are now invited for the inaugural Safe Family Research scholar. C andidates with degree/s in the areas of psychology, public health, epidemiology or related disciplines and with an interest in road safety are encouraged to apply.

The Amy Gillett Foundation was established earlier this year to promote a safe and harmonious relationship between cyclists and motorists through education, awareness and research programs.

For further information or to organise an interview please contact Ms Lahra Carey for the Amy Gillett Foundation on 0414 632 982 or Ms Allison Harding, Senior Media Communications Officer for MUARC, on 0419 302 520.

Postgraduate Enquiries:
Post-graduate Studies Administrative Officer
Accident Research Centre
Building 70, Clayton Campus,
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Phone +61 3 9905 4371

Interested applicants should complete the Expression of Interest Form on this site www.monash.edu.au/muarc/postgraduate/index.html