Rarotonga travel insurance- helmets required?

[MarkyMark]

I've checked a fair few travel insurance companies, and the ones that will cover you on a motorbike require a helmet to be worn. Now normally this makes perfect sense, but in Rarotonga everyone drives their scooters around with no safety gear, it's a 40k speed limit anyway and bloody hot :sunny:

I'll be heading off there again next month, and would like to be covered on the scoot. Does anyone have advice besides hardening up?

[vindy500]

get one of those cool momo jet pilot ones

[YellowDog]

Anyone got any stats on how many Raratongans crack their hears after fallin off bikes?

[JimO]

Anyone got any stats on how many Raratongans crack their hears after fallin off bikes?

coconuts bounce

[Blackbird]

No helmet requirement but most accomodation and bike hire places do have helmets available. I felt a bit naked on day 1 without one but soon got used to it. you're restricted to a nominal 40 km/hr without a helmet, 50 with one. Couldn't bring myself to wear jandals or sandals though and stuck with trainers.

Our scooters came as part of our package and we didn't have to sign any special forms for insurance etc. Separate scooter hire seems to start at about $12/day. You'll need a Cook Island licence which is straight revenue collection. IIRC, $25 for a year. Get down to Avarua police station spot on 0800 to avoid queues.

Oh, and I hate wobbly small diameter wheels, especially with my wife on the back but you get used to it!

[Devil]

. you're restricted to a nominal 40 km/hr without a helmet, 50 with one.

What he said. This is actually a newer rule change. The speed limits have also changed a little, but there's nothing confusing!

Hrm, i dont remember reading the travel insurance details :shutup:

[The Pastor]

Wear a helmet mate

[funky monkey]

embrace the culture, i have been to raro, and thailand and eiter place you dont have to wear helmets. Only place that required me to was vietnam.

[Milts]

Wear a helmet mate

+1. I was over there a few months ago and sure none of the locals wear helmets ever, but they do have a number of head injuries and deaths every year because of it. It's not much of a hassle to wear one, especially considering as it won't be a full face one, because all the scooters have space for it under the seat anyway. Besides which it's nice given the number of bugs over there.

My sister managed to bail in the 5 days we were over there, didn't hit her head but even at 30 km/h hitting your head on the ground can get very nasty.

[MarkyMark]

I've been here once before, and just rode without the helmet then, I know the rental companies are all good with it. I feel a bit guilty about it, but a lid would be stinking hot, and when in Rome...

I just wonder what happens with medical expenses in the unlikely event I do get something worse than an exhaust burn on my calf. At the moment my plan is to just not be unlucky<_<

[Blackbird]

I just wonder what happens with medical expenses in the unlikely event I do get something worse than an exhaust burn on my calf. At the moment my plan is to just not be unlucky<_<

Travel insurance is your friend if you get the right cover:Punk:

[woodboats]

There was a little 125 Honda amongst the scooters when I went to rent my bike.
When I told the lady I wanted that instead of a scooter she yells to a guy out back "Hey, he wants the clutch bike". "Do you know how to ride a clutch bike?"

When you are hanging around to get your Raro licence most of the people taking the short test have never been on a bike before. Take you licence and don't get in the same line with those folks.

[MacD]

There was a little 125 Honda amongst the scooters when I went to rent my bike.
When I told the lady I wanted that instead of a scooter she yells to a guy out back "Hey, he wants the clutch bike". "Do you know how to ride a clutch bike?"

When you are hanging around to get your Raro licence most of the people taking the short test have never been on a bike before. Take you licence and don't get in the same line with those folks.

I upgraded to a GN125 from one of the old stepthru' scooters ;)

I was there about 6 years ago and didn't need to sit the test as I had an NZ motorcycle licence (I did have to pay the $10 as it was then), has this changed?

[MarkyMark]

Travel insurance is your friend if you get the right cover:Punk:


Yeah, the point is finding out if anyone knows a company that offers cover for the unhelmeted.

[woodboats]

I upgraded to a GN125 from one of the old stepthru' scooters ;)

I was there about 6 years ago and didn't need to sit the test as I had an NZ motorcycle licence (I did have to pay the $10 as it was then), has this changed?

No, you are correct. If you already have a licence it's just a matter of paying your $10. I got myself into the wrong line at first and had quite a wait.

[portokiwi]

Check at the hotel you are staying with. They might have some in the back of the office or in the baggage room lol.
When I worked there for a few months I saw some at a few of the hotels I worked in....... They brought them for their staff when the police had a faze to ping locals..... That only lasted a few months.
Hope this helps.

[Bass]

Wear a helmet!!
On my first trip over there, one of the hotel staff collapsed at my feet with a major heart attack. (I didn't know I was that ugly). Another staff member and I worked on him until the ambulance arrived but we couldn't save him.

The point of this is that when the ambulance crew arrived, they basically didn't have a clue!
I was astounded..... I mean they really had no clue at all as to what they should have been doing.

Take all necessary precautions to avoid falling into the clutches of the medical system in Raro.

Still a great place for a holiday tho'.

[jetboy]

The old folks just got back from Raro the other day and advised that you don't need to wear a helmet if you ride less than 40km/h but must wear a helmet if you go over that. Strict penalties apply if you fail to adhere to the rules (apparently).

Also, a licence costs ~$25

[duckonin]

Anyone got any stats on how many Raratongans crack their hears after fallin off bikes?

TOOOOOO, hard for that...

[NDORFN]

Wear a helmet. It's not speed that'll be the factor in your death, it'll be that if you fall off, and get knocked out, a local will take you home and cook you in thier Umu.

[portokiwi]

Anyone got any stats on how many Raratongans crack their hears after fallin off bikes?

I will ask my sister by email. She is in charge of the disabilaty action team.
She deals with that stuff. Only for another month. Thats now going to close so she will be out of a job soon and no help.:no:

[PrincessBandit]

The old folks just got back from Raro the other day and advised that you don't need to wear a helmet if you ride less than 40km/h but must wear a helmet if you go over that. Strict penalties apply if you fail to adhere to the rules (apparently).

Also, a licence costs ~$25

We were over there last month and it was $20 each, but all they did was copy over the info on your NZ license and take a new photo of you. I still have my Raro one in my wallet.

They also expire 2 years from your last birthday so because my birthday is in June (had just had it) mine is valid until Jun 2011; but hubbies birthday is in Nov (therefore his last birthday was in 2008) so his expires in 2010.

Did see a few people wearing helmets, but we didn't. I'm not actually sure what our insurance situation would have been if there'd been an accident so I hope someone is able to answer your op question. Sorry I can't.