It is all our fault

**dipshit** · 15th September 2009, 11:27

Originally Posted by Danae

I notice he mentioned that car drivers need to look out for motorcyclists, but we need a bit more than just a sentence or two in an article.

He's just parroting BRONZ bullshit. It's not the real problem.

**vgcspares** · 15th September 2009, 11:32

Originally Posted by hiss

Is there a time limit to being a born again? Surely as the current ones move on, there a new ones to take their place. Same with squids and learners etc. I may have the wrong read on it.

I'm coming from the belief that the boom years of motorcycling were the 60s & 70s in absolute numbers terms, so it's a bit like the baby-boom after WWII - there's a tidal swell that's probably comiing back down to a more normal level

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 11:32

Originally Posted by oldrider

Or are they separated from road crash statistics along with other "farm bikes"?

Actually, they usually are.

**madbikeboy** · 15th September 2009, 11:53

So, have any of you actually done the math on this?

In 2004, 7 motorcycles crashed in Auckland. Next question - in 2004 I can recall seeing how many cars my mate had in panel shop at any one time. More than 10, I can assure you.

In 2008, 16 motorcycles crashed in Auckland. Again, I drove past my mates panel shop this morning, and I'm assuming he doesn't have the only panel shop in Auckland, and all the cars that are going to crash have crashed already, and all of that business went to his shop.

You see my point.

The increase from 7 to 16 is a huge number from a raw percentage point of view, but if you were to view it in context of the wider car crashes, it looks less bad.

The numbers have disproportionate weighting.

Take a look at the number of people hurt mountain biking, horse riding, or playing rugby...

(crashes involving motorcycles in Auckland City):

2004: 6 scooter, 7 motorcycle - 69 per cent

2005: 4 scooter, 12 motorcycle - 76 per cent

2006: 8 scooter, 12 motorcycle - 74 per cent

2007: 8 scooter, 14 motorcycle - 69 per cent

2008: 9 scooter, 16 motorcycle - 61 per cent

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 15th September 2009, 11:58

Originally Posted by Mom

This makes an interesting read.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10597333

Not in this case....

Originally Posted by NZPA

A south Auckland motorcyclist killed as he rode home from a Northland funeral at the weekend was the victim of two teenaged drivers racing each other, say police.

Asa Le Grande Te Kare, 43, died when his motorcycle was hit by one of two cars racing north on State Highway 1 just south of Warkworth about 7pm on Saturday.

Police said witnesses have told them two cars were racing north when one of the drivers lost control and his car crossed the centre line and hit Mr Te Kare.

"The two vehicles, a white Toyota Altezza and a silver Subaru Legacy, both entered a moderate right hand bend and the Altezza lost control.

"It slid sideways onto the wrong side of the road where it took out a motorcycle," said Inspector Stu Kearns from the police serious crash unit.

He said Mr Te Kare was minding his own business and doing nothing wrong.

He said the vehicles were travelling at "considerable speed" before the incident and several factors contributed to the loss of control.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-sto...cyclist-death/

Sergeant Bede Haughey from the Warkworth police said both teenage drivers had been spoken to and charges were likely.

**phiretrojan** · 15th September 2009, 12:02

Originally Posted by Mom

This makes an interesting read.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10597333

Yip sums it all up Aucklander's need i quote more...

**Mekk** · 15th September 2009, 12:14

Supposedly "mid-life crises" come about for men because of their women aging. When they reach menopause or about that, men get biologically restless and try to re-capture their youth, impress younger ladies etc.

This is why there are a lot of middle-aged men biting off more than they can chew.

For the laydeeeez.

**The Stranger:Me** · 15th September 2009, 12:40

Interestingly those stats would appear to be at odds with the Hurt report.
I wonder what changed in that time?
According to most all imports we are the worst car drivers in the world, so are we worse in every respect except one - hitting motorcycles? Has evolution meant car drivers have developed special observation powers for motorcycles?

It's been said before, an airline style investigation of fatal crashes with published results should help to confirm the stats and bring home the reality, it also allows us to focus on the problem areas - as it stands now, the problem areas remain unknown and everyone stands around wringing their hands instead.

**Oscar** · 15th September 2009, 12:47

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Interestingly those stats would appear to be at odds with the Hurt report.
I wonder what changed in that time?
According to most all imports we are the worst car drivers in the world, so are we worse in every respect except one - hitting motorcycles? Has evolution meant car drivers have developed special observation powers for motorcycles?

It's been said before, an airline style investigation of fatal crashes with published results should help to confirm the stats and bring home the reality, it also allows us to focus on the problem areas - as it stands now, the problem areas remain unknown and everyone stands around wringing their hands instead.

The sample is too small and too specific (it stands to reason a congested city like Auckland is dangerous for bikes), I doubt those figures translate nationwide.

**Mekk** · 15th September 2009, 13:00

As a point of interest, this article from last year: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10500855

...says:

"ACC Minister Maryan Street said since 2001 claims for motorcycle accidents had nearly doubled and the annual ACC claim costs now exceeded $52 million.

"Riding a motorcycle is risky. Motorcyclists make up only 2 per cent of vehicles on the road but account for 18 per cent of road claims received by ACC."

She said increasing visibility would make motorcyclists safer. They were not to blame for three-quarters of the accidents they were involved in."

My emphasis in bold.

I'm not sure where that comment is coming from though, so maybe best to take with salt.

**Grumpy Gnomb** · 15th September 2009, 13:03

Not sure if already on here but says in NZ Herald that motorcyclists were to balme for 70% of all Auckland City crashes in which they were involved over the past 5 years.

Police stats show two wheelers were the leading "Vehicle at fault" when involved in accidents every year from 2004 to last year - peaking at 74% in 2006

Automobile Association statistics show the problem is nationwide, with motorbikes and scooters causing 87 per cent of the 2303 fatal and serious injury crashes they were involved in between 2003 and last year.

Police and industry experts believed one cause of the crashes was the number of middle-aged men trying to recapture their youth by returning to the motorcycles they rode when they were young.

The article makes interesting reading