Decline in motorcycle
deaths in 2017
D
ecember marked the official start
of summer. Along with the longer
days and the warmer weather also
comes 50% more motorcycles on
New Zealand’s roads. Unfortunately,
motorcyclists are over represented in
crash statistics with riders being 21 times more
likely to be killed or seriously injured than car
drivers, over the same distance travelled.
Since 2015 there’s been a decline in the number
of motorcycle crashes resulting in death.
Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC)
Chair Mark Gilbert says, “If we want to keep on this
downward trend, motorcycle safety must remain
top of mind during these summer months.”
MSAC and ACC have a joint commitment to
motorcycle safety as outlined in our Motorcycle
Safety Strategy. The priority focus areas are
improving rider skills, encouraging the uptake
of bike technologies that make riders safer
(such as ABS), educating riders on the right
gear for the situation and the importance of
‘all the gear, all the time (ATGATT)’ and working
with NZTA and local authorities on improving
road design and maintenance to make high-
risk routes more motorcycle friendly.”
Gilbert says all riders can commit to safety by
taking a Ride Forever course, “The courses are
heavily subsidised by ACC and emphasise increasing
and refining skills to get the most out of your ride.
The courses take place on road to give riders the
confidence to ride safely in real life conditions.
“And just as important is ensuring your bike
is ride-ready. Whether it’s coming out of
storage after the winter or you’ve been riding
it year round, motorcycle maintenance is a key
component of keeping safe on the road.
“Other road users also have a responsibility
and we join ACC in asking motorists to look
twice for motorcycles. We can easily be missed
– with sometimes fatal consequences.
“We see the downward trend in motorcycle deaths
as being directly related to the attitudes and
mindsets of all road users. We are hopeful that by
keeping motorcycle safety in the spotlight, we will
continue to see a decrease in crashes and fatalities.”
see more at https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/road-deaths/toll.html
Fastest bikes in NZ
M
ark February 10, 2018 on your calendar.
It’s the day the fastest vehicles in
New Zealand will be vying to break
NZ’s speed records, and there are
some exciting entries for Landspeed
New Zealand’s inaugural event.
Being held at Goudies Road, Reporoa, there will
be landspeed events in a variety of classes, with the
riders all looking to get into the NZ record books. In
the entries so far are a wide variety of bikes including
a 70cc Yamaha Aerox, 215hp Kawasaki ZX-10R, 330hp
Kawasaki H2R and 400hp Suzuki Hayabusa. A number
of pretty hot cars will also be there including a 900hp
Porsche GT3 and a 600hp electric dragster.
18 KIWI RIDER
Runs will start from
9am and finish at 5pm.
If you want to enter
or want more information,
head to www.landspeed.org.nz