Sir
As a motorcyclist I wish to clarify some points in your recent editorial on ACC levy increases
Motorcycle casualties in 2008 were double those in 2000 ? True, but there were double the number of motorcycles on the road! In fact the rate of crashes per 10000 machines has hardly changed, fatalities per 10000 have actually decreased
You say that motorcyclists are 16 times as likely to crash as cars. This urban myth is quite incorrect. The 16 x figure (from a 1998 study - the world has moved on) relates to crashes per million kilometres. Motorcycles travel fewer kilometers than cars - only a quarter as many by ACC figures. Less distance means fewer crashes.
The claim that motorcyclists"should" be paying $3700 is equally spurious . It is derived by multiplying the car levy by that same 16 times factor . How ludicrous that is can be seen by simple arithmetic. The total cost of all motorcycle payments in 2008 was $62 million. But 100000 motorcycles paying $3700 is $370 million.
Nor do motorcycle crashes cost four times as much as cars. In fact they cost less. Motorcycle claims in 2008 averaged $19000. Cars cost $22000
Finally you say that motorcyclists ride for enjoyment not financial reasons. That may be so in the Waikato (though I doubt it) , it certainly is not true elsewhere . I , like many thousands of motorcyclists, use my motorcycle for daily transport.
Motorcyclists make a positive environmental and social contribution. They allow transport for those who could not other wise afford it. They reduce congestion, cause less pollution and emissions than cars , and have a far smaller footprint. it is sad to see them selected as an easy target for tax grabbing.
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Can you maybe type it out or provide a link to it on their web page?
Originally Posted by Chisanga
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