ACC (again)

[TripleZee Dyno]

Just read about new ACC levy proposals for cars. The levy to be based on the cars safety rating. 5 star rating, least amount of ACC. Apparently most cars 5 years and newer are 5 star. A quick squize on TM shows you are probably looking at $7000 min for a 2005> car (and that was a Honda Jazz). OK for some but I wouldnt think that everyone has a spare 7-10k to upgrade their car. Nick Smith the minister is reported as saying this move will save 42% of 340 million dollars? whatever that means.
Point is this proposal is probably not a goer so guess what the backup plan is likely to be?
When talking about road safety and cost of accidents, you dont need to be a brain surgeon to figure out whats coming next.

[AllanB]

I'm stuffed then - motorcycle - probably a -1 star rating

Madza Familia - about a 2 star on a good day

[middleaged2wheeler]

Getting near the time to scrap the ACC system--and go back to private insurance cover---ACC pulls money out from an amazing number places.
Petrol, regos, worker and employer levies to name a few. When a monolithic Govt department gets too expensive and cumbersome it usually gets dumped into the private sector.
The motorcar has become a travelling lounge with too many driver distractions--coffee cup holders, cellphones, navigation devices, laptops,--beeps for this and that -motorcyclists have to concentrate when they drive-join that with speed and and aggression and inexperience of course the travelling lounge may not be a safe place at 100kms.

[Laava]

Getting near the time to scrap the ACC system--and go back to private insurance cover---ACC pulls money out from an amazing number places.
Petrol, regos, worker and employer levies to name a few. When a monolithic Govt department gets too expensive and cumbersome it usually gets dumped into the private sector.
The motorcar has become a travelling lounge with too many driver distractions--coffee cup holders, cellphones, navigation devices, laptops,--beeps for this and that -motorcyclists have to concentrate when they drive-join that with speed and and aggression and inexperience of course the travelling lounge may not be a safe place at 100kms.

Great idea. and I would be happy to do this personally, BUT!
There would then be a huge amount of people who would not have any insurance of any type and at the mo those people are covered by ACC. Our entire welfare system would have to be re-modelled specifically to cater to these people who rightly or wrongly would need assistance. Starts to smack of 3rd world then in my opinion.
Maybe the optional insurance thing would work better. I know there are many downfalls to this option too. Be nice to have a govt that would implement it with enough time to properly road test it.
BTW, I am having a shitfight with ACC at the mo, re work ACC levies so would love to see the playing field levelled, ie, no claims benefits.

[p.dath]

Getting near the time to scrap the ACC system--and go back to private insurance cover---ACC pulls money out from an amazing number places.
Petrol, regos, worker and employer levies to name a few. When a monolithic Govt department gets too expensive and cumbersome it usually gets dumped into the private sector.
The motorcar has become a travelling lounge with too many driver distractions--coffee cup holders, cellphones, navigation devices, laptops,--beeps for this and that -motorcyclists have to concentrate when they drive-join that with speed and and aggression and inexperience of course the travelling lounge may not be a safe place at 100kms.

I wouldn't be happy to scrap it, but I would be happy to go back to how it was when National was last in power, where you could elect to get private insurance and opt out of it.

[swbarnett]

Great idea. and I would be happy to do this personally, BUT!
There would then be a huge amount of people who would not have any insurance of any type and at the mo those people are covered by ACC. Our entire welfare system would have to be re-modelled specifically to cater to these people who rightly or wrongly would need assistance. Starts to smack of 3rd world then in my opinion.

This is what happens in Switzerland. Those that can't afford their own health insurance get it paid for by the Government. Because that Government is only buying insurance from the private sector (and then only for a small proportion of the population) and not running hospitals the whole system is a lot more efficient. Definately not third world.

[TripleZee Dyno]

The good thing about ACC is its no fault basis, ie you crash at 150k you are covered. The same cant be said about private insurance. Unlawful activity may void your private insurance and then you are back to hoping the state will scrape you off the road.
Having experienced some private insurance woes in a first world country I personally prefer ACC. It needs fine tuning but no sense throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
be careful what you wish for etc

[Grahameeboy]

In a way ACC is private Insurance for us as we contribute to it, it is just run by the Govt.

May find, that as we have had ACC a while that private insurance becomes expensive to cover the sudden influx of people wanting cover and actuaries shitting themselves.

I think that drunk drivers should contribute, say only get 50% assistance...sounds tough but it may just change attitudes...maybe same for unlicenced drivers...

[Grahameeboy]

The good thing about ACC is its no fault basis, ie you crash at 150k you are covered. The same cant be said about private insurance. Unlawful activity may void your private insurance and then you are back to hoping the state will scrape you off the road.
Having experienced some private insurance woes in a first world country I personally prefer ACC. It needs fine tuning but no sense throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
be careful what you wish for etc

Non Fault creates a society issue....

[inlinefour]

Im sweet, ACC have brought me a 09 Merc van thats probably almost in NZ by now and then its getting a heap more $$$ thrown at it, to convert it into a self drive vehicle. Now all those here who want to moan about ACC and the likes of myself that need/are entitled to ACC, can get bent. I spent almost a decade paying one of the highest premiums, while working as a commercial fishing deckhand. I also occasionaly would grizzle about it, until I was bowled of my ride, just going into town to get a kebab. You never know when your going to need it and once you have needed to have ACC's help, hopefully some respect is grown. Its usually the most ignorant ones who make the most noise. Expect that there will be more to come from ACC, with their major restructure of staff and how they do things. This has been forced by the new gubbermint (which is just as useless as the last) and it comes back to the gubbermint for allowing ACC to get into the ratshit situation its now in. This concept of vehicle safety is nothing new, look at how some other countries do things, say like Japan and I reciently watch the doco on the Autobhan and how Germany does it. If needed everyone can have its cry about it, but you can bet your last buck that in some form this will eventually happen. This has been on the back burner for along time and at one stage they was talking about trying to get vehicles off the road that are over a set amount of years. I dont remember how many, but it was not much.

[Grahameeboy]

Im sweet, ACC have brought me a 09 Merc van thats probably almost in NZ by now and then its getting a heap more $$$ thrown at it, to convert it into a self drive vehicle. Now all those here who want to moan about ACC and the likes of myself that need/are entitled to ACC, can get bent. I spent almost a decade paying one of the highest premiums, while working as a commercial fishing deckhand. I also occasionaly would grizzle about it, until I was bowled of my ride, just going into town to get a kebab. You never know when your going to need it and once you have needed to have ACC's help, hopefully some respect is grown. Its usually the most ignorant ones who make the most noise. Expect that there will be more to come from ACC, with their major restructure of staff and how they do things. This has been forced by the new gubbermint (which is just as useless as the last) and it comes back to the gubbermint for allowing ACC to get into the ratshit situation its now in. This concept of vehicle safety is nothing new, look at how some other countries do things, say like Japan and I reciently watch the doco on the Autobhan and how Germany does it. If needed everyone can have its cry about it, but you can bet your last buck that in some fornocenbm this will eventually happen. This has been on the back burner for along time and at one stage they was talking about trying to get vehicles off the road that are over a set amount of years. I dont remember how many, but it was not much.

ACC is great I agree but the best the govt will now do for Nats (since last year), also innocence, is $19,000 towards a Van..I had to find $25,000 to get Nats van...the Mercs around $75,000 plus.

There has to be fairness...

[middleaged2wheeler]

But isn,t our society being shaped by what "a few people think is a good idea, "usually politicians--anti-smacking,- who should drive what and at what age and what learner hurdles they should put in front of them---how much a pac of cigs or beer should be.-- we are dictated to in many aspects of daily life and the ACC levys dumped on us are just another.
Suppliers of a system may not be the users of the same system--so they feel like the govt hand is in their pocket all the time and far too much.

[p.dath]

But isn,t our society being shaped by what "a few people think is a good idea, "usually politicians--anti-smacking,- who should drive what and at what age and what learner hurdles they should put in front of them---how much a pac of cigs or beer should be.-- we are dictated to in many aspects of daily life and the ACC levys dumped on us are just another.
Suppliers of a system may not be the users of the same system--so they feel like the govt hand is in their pocket all the time and far too much.

This is a democracy. If you don't like who is in power then vote them out. If you don't like anyone, then stand yourself.

[middleaged2wheeler]

The ACC system being a "NO FAULT ONE" means in reality, all have to bankroll every reckless activity going in NZ at any one time. Just think of all the risky pastimes and hobbies ACC covers besides work. When it first came out burgalars jumping out of window and breaking a leg were covered by ACC---
Some limit to what it covers maybe a start--if you want go skydiving--get your own cover--if you want to go caving get your own cover--and on it goes.

[middleaged2wheeler]

Theory is good---start own political movement to institute some commonsense back into ruling system--alas that can take a lifetime--powerful lobby groups can be more effective. This forum has a lobbying power for sure.