Motorcycling and An Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Name and Address supplied

ACC Levy For Motorcycles – Suggestions

By providing Motorcycle Use Category Classification and also Recognition Of Additional Skills Training And Development Qualifications motorcyclists can decide when they want to ride, and at their choice and discretion graduate their riding skill. When to ride and at what skill level should be recognized and rewarded by a realistic and balanced scale of ACC levy/s.

While it may be expected that motorcyclists will be dissatisfied with the proposed ACC Levy increase, (the extent of ACC Levy increase and how it is currently proposed to be scaled for motorcycles are not discussed in this submission) but rather two suggestions are raised for consideration by ACC during the consultation process that may ameliorate the final outcome.

Suggestion 1.
Provide a motorcycle use category classification.

Suggestion 2.
Recognition of additional skills training and development qualifications.

Motorcycle Use Category Classification
In very broad and general terms motorcyclists could fit into two categories:

1. Recreational Use
Most commonly weekends, and public holidays, as well as periods of employment holiday leave.

2. General Use
Full time use.

Recognition Of Additional Skills Training And Development Qualifications
There are optional Advance Refresher Riders courses that look primarily at hazard detection rider safety and awareness, as well as advance riding technique, particularly emergency braking and counter-steering skill development.

Completion of such courses should be taken into consideration in any scaled ACC Levy system.

General Comment

Motorcyclists, in many instances in my opinion, are ‘recreational riders’ and indeed many that return to riding after many years, it may be argued, do so to meet recreational objectives.

By categorizing motorcycle use with associated ACC Levy scales , then this can open the way for the introduction of improved optional rider training self-initiatives:

A current motorcyclist or a new novice rider or returning rider can nominate a Recreational Use only category. This would be at a cheaper scale cost than General Use.

In addition the Recreational Use category can permit the motorcyclist to pay for a minimum period eg one month General Use during periods for example of employment holiday leave, or for any other reason as often as is required .

The Motorcyclist may as an option select and complete an authorized advance rider skills training development qualification/s. This should have a further financial benefit through reduced ACC levy component in both Recreational Use and General Use categories.

Any motorcyclist can nominate at any time the General Use category without completing any skill training development qualifications and pay according to whatever deemed ACC Levy scale.

In terms of administration, this could be a simplified process and the motorcyclist pays the appropriate ACC Levy realistically reflecting actual intended usage. (Tick the appropriate Category Classification box.) Certification of completed optional advanced courses could be integrated with the Driver Licence system.

Conclusion

The ability to improve motorcycle rider safety and reduce costs associated with injury related accidents is a logical common goal.

Whether the rider is a current motorcyclist or a first time rider or a returning rider, after years of not riding, the option of having a declared ‘Use’ category could well provide improved road safety. The motorcyclist takes responsibility for when s/he rides by paying the appropriate scaled ACC Levy Category Classification.

Recognizing a motorcyclist’s self-initiative skills development by completing an optional ‘authorised’ advanced rider training course/s could also improve overall rider and road safety in general. The motorcyclist would be rewarded by paying a reduced scaled ACC Levy reflecting the skill certification.

By providing Motorcycle Use Category Classification and also Recognition Of Additional Skills Training And Development Qualifications motorcyclists can decide when they want to ride, and at their choice and discretion graduate their riding skill. When to ride and at what skill level should be recognized and rewarded by a realistic and balanced scale of ACC levy/s.


Thank you
Name and Address supplied