Power to weight restriction

[scracha]

observe. As such, anyone who holds a full license in ANY category should be excused from the learners period IMHO - the restricted is all good, but putting people with 10+ years of roaduser experience on an L-plate just makes no sense whatsoever.

Bollocks it does. So johnny V8 has a mid-life crisis and decides to buy a GSXR1000. Splat. That's who are making huge dents in the accident stats.

I'm ALL for this lawchange. Wish they'd do similar with cars...as usual we're the guinea pigs.

Interesting that they can ride an RVF400 but not a CBR400......

[Ixion]

Bear in mind, that the list being discussed at present is actually the AUSTRALIAN list. We had bikes they did not. Did Oz have the CBR400 ?

We will have an opportunity to ask for additions or deletions when the NZ list is considered.

[WelshWizard]

TV 3
6 pm news for details

[neilwgtn]

I always have the opinion that "kids" arent taught the real road code... they are taught wahts legal and whats not.. but not taught how to drive correctly... (stopping in the middle of intersections... be courteous... let others pull in.. stay left... this is what cuases accidents.. pissing off other drivers.....

cheers.,.

well off to the hurricanes now...

GO HURRICANES

[headlesschicken]

good god. the government has seen the light!
They look like brilliant ideas to me. rs250 owners will be gutted though

[devnull]

What a crappy news report TV3 gave....

If you didn't know better, the way they presented this implies that bikers are all unsafe road users and as such consume heaps of ACC money.

Where the hell is the HP restrictions for young dickheads in cars? Like the boy racers that kill their passengers in collisions?

Every time politicians want to score brownie points, they target minority groups.

Dropping the 70km/h limit is good, but there seems to be no consistancy from these pricks at all.

Must be an election year...

[merv]

Here's Harry Duynhoven's guff on it:
-----------------------------------
Motorcycle safety package aims to cut crash rate

Hon Minister Duynhoven
Minister for Transport Safety

28 March 2008 Media Statement

Motorcycle safety package aims to cut high crash rate

The Government has announced a range of measures to reduce the
high number of motorcycle casualties on New Zealand roads.
Transport Safety Minister, Harry Duynhoven, says far too many
novice motorcyclists, particularly in the over-30 age group,
are involved in crashes.

“Since 2001, there has been a 28 percent increase in licensed
motorcycles, and this figure is expected to grow with predicted
rising fuel costs. But over the same period, there has been
a staggering 80 percent increase in motorcycle casualties.

“The package of initiatives signed off by Cabinet aims to address
this major road safety problem and to cut the high crash risk
of novice riders,” says Mr Duynhoven.

The motorcycle safety proposals form part of the implementation
of the Road Safety to 2010 Strategy. They include restrictions
on the use of powerful motorcycles by novice riders, changes
to the Graduated Driver Licensing System to encourage riders
to take up more motorcycle-specific training and the introduction
of safer motorcyling practices such as improving the visibility
of motorcycle and moped riders to other road users.

“These proposals clearly target novice motorcyclists because
these riders face the greatest crash risk. They are paying far
too high a price – in 2007, motorcyclists and pillions accounted
for 10 percent of all road fatalities.

“I am confident there will be strong support for the initiatives
as they address many of the issues raised in the “See You There…Safe
As!” public consultation programme run in 2006,” says Minister
Duynhoven.

One of the key issues arising from the public consultation concerned
the Graduated Driver Licensing System.

The package aimed at novice riders proposes restricting learner
and restricted motorcycle licence holders to less powerful motorcycles.
It also offers further training incentives to novice riders
to progress through their licence and puts a cap on the time
riders can spend on a learner licence.

In keeping with government proposals to shift the focus away
from fines to increased demerit points for lawbreaking motorists,
motorcyclists will run the risk of 25 demerit points for not
wearing a helmet.

“The emphasis is on ensuring novice motorcyclists are aware
of the increased risks they face on the road and that these riders
are well equipped for the responsibility of motorcycle ownership,”
says Mr Duynhoven.

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed
changes towards the middle of this year as part of the Land Transport
Rules consultation process.
--

[merv]

Here's the Q/A part to the release:

1. What are the new proposals?
The proposals are to:
- Improve the safety of novice riders by restricting learner
and restricted motorcycle licence holders to motorcycles which
do not exceed a power-to-weight ratio of 150 kilowatts per tonne.
This is required because technological developments have meant
the current 250cc restriction allows motorcycles which are very
powerful. In addition to the power-to-weight limit an upper limit
of 660cc is proposed to ensure that the approved motorcycles
are not too physically large for novice riders;
- Encourage the uptake of rider training by amending the Graduated
Driver Licensing System (GDLS) for motorcyclists so an approved
motorcycle-specific training course completed in the learner
licence phase reduces the time spent on a restricted motorcycle
licence by six months;
- Introduce a motorcycle-specific competency based assessment
option as an alternative to the restricted and full licence tests
for those riders that undertake an approved motorcycle-specific
training course in the learner licence phase;
- Encourage progression through the GDLS by introducing a maximum
three year validity period for all learner motorcycle licences;
- Remove the 70km/h speed limit restriction which currently applies
to learner motorcycle licence holders. This restriction is largely
ignored. When this speed restriction is adhered to it creates
a large difference in the speed of vehicles travelling on the
open road, which is a known road safety problem. Road safety
research indicates this speed difference issue outweighs any
benefit of lower open road speed limits for novice motorcycle
riders;
- Increase compliance with the motorcycle helmet requirement
by introducing 25 demerit points and reducing the level of fine
from $150 to $50 for helmet incorrect and non-wearing offences;
- Improve the visibility of motorcycle and moped riders by introducing
a requirement for all motorcycle and moped riders to have daytime
running lights or their headlights on at all times when riding
on the road; and
- Reduce the level of risk for novice motorcyclists over the
age of 25 by increasing the minimum time period these motorcyclists
spend on a restricted licence from six to twelve months.

2. Why are these changes needed?
Motorcycle casualties (fatalities plus serious and minor injuries)
have grown significantly since 2001. While some growth in casualties
might have been expected as a result of the 28 percent increase
in licensed motorcycles over the same period, it is very concerning
that the casualty increase is so large. Furthermore the cost
of fuel has risen, and is likely to remain high, so motorcycle
ownership and use is likely to increase further. It is important
that best practice motorcycle safety initiatives are put in place
now to deal with this growing road safety problem.

3. Where have these best practice motorcycle initiatives come
from?
The majority of the GDLS proposals are based on a best practice
model for motorcycle licensing and training created by Monash
University in Melbourne. In the development of this model Monash
reviewed the motorcycle licensing and training systems in Australia,
the United Kingdom, parts of Europe and the U.S.A. The model
is based on the premise that motorcycle riding requires higher
levels of both vehicle control and cognitive skills than car
driving and that the potential outcomes of any failure on the
part of the rider, other road users, or the road environment
are severe. It states that in order to achieve substantial improvements
in the safety of motorcycling, the rider training and licensing
systems may need to be quite different than those for cars. New
Zealand already has aspects of the model in place, including
a Basic Motorcycle Handling Skills Test to obtain a learner licence.

There were also a couple of other specific motorcycle safety
issues emerging outside of the licensing and training systems
that needed a policy response.

4. Why have the specific limits of 150 kilowatts per tonne for
power-to-weight and 660cc for engine capacity been chosen as
a replacement for the current 250cc restriction for novice motorcyclists?

The limits are the same as those used for the Learner Approved
Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS), which was first introduced in New South
Wales (NSW) and has now been duplicated in a number of other
Australian states. In terms of ease of implementation and working
with bike importers and distributors the most expedient option
for New Zealand is to also duplicate the NSW LAMS model and use
their approved list of motorcycles. This scheme has been researched
thoroughly and has proved popular with the local motorcycling
community.

5. What role have motorcyclists played in the development of
these proposals?
In 2006, the Ministry of Transport organised a series of nationwide
public workshops to get public input into what were the road
safety priorities, and how these could be better addressed. The
See You There … Safe As! campaign attracted a lot of interest
and from this, and other information collected, a draft policy
statement was produced last December. Some of the proposals stem
directly from feedback motorcyclists gave at the Safe As workshops
and on the Safe As Community web-based forum. For example, removing
the 70km/h speed limit for learner motorcyclists and replacing
the 250cc restriction with a power-to-weight restriction for
novice motorcyclists.

Key motorcycle stakeholders have been consulted through the Motorcycle
Safety Reference Group, which is convened by the Accident Compensation
Corporation (ACC). The reference group involves the motorcycling
industry, manufacturers, retailers, trainers and motorcycle interest
groups. The group broadly supports the proposals.

6. Will there be any exemptions to the requirement for all motorcycle
and moped riders to have daytime running lights or their headlights
on at all times when riding on the road?
Consideration will be given to exempting motorcycles or mopeds
over forty years old from this requirement as some older electrical
charging systems (generators) do not have the capacity to reliably
produce the power necessary to operate headlamps continuously.

7. The proposals mainly focus on novice motorcyclists, what about
continuing and returning riders?
The proposals mainly focus on novice motorcyclists as they face
the greatest crash risk, a growing portion of which are in the
over 30 age group. However, there is a cross-government agency
motorcycle safety group led by the Ministry of Transport that
is examining non-legislative safety initiatives that will benefit
all motorcycle and moped riders. This includes possible infrastructure
improvements, education and enforcement activities.

ACC also plays a significant role in terms of promoting motorcycle
safety for continuing and returning riders through the provision
of education material (e.g. http://www.rideforever.co.nz/) and
the funding of research.

8. What else is happening that will have an impact on motorcycle
safety?
A Bill which proposes raising the minimum driving age from 15
to 16 has been introduced to Parliament and is currently before
the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee for consideration.
Late last year the Government also announced a package of road
safety measures focussing on:
- changes to the current penalty regime, and in particular the
demerit system;
- changes to the penalty regime for people caught speeding by
police officers;
- the introduction of demerit points for offences relating to
intersections; and
- a package of proposals aimed at reducing the high crash risk
to young and novice drivers.
These measures build on proposals announced recently to reduce
the blood alcohol content limit to zero for drivers under 20
who do not hold a full licence. All of these changes will automatically
apply to motorcyclists and moped riders and will assist in reducing
the risk of this road user group.

Requiring all mopeds to be inspected before registration is currently
being considered as part of a review of low powered vehicles.
Restricting moped riders with learner and restricted car driver
licences from carrying pillion passengers is to be included in
the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2008.

When will the changes occur?
The proposals will require changes to the Land Transport Driver
Licensing and Road User rules and Land Transport Offences and
Penalties Regulations. Amendments to these are included in the
07/08 rules programme and there will be a chance to comment on
the proposals as part of the rules consultation process.

9. Where can I get further information?

The Regulatory Impact Statement is published on the Ministry
of Transport’s website: http://www.transport.govt.nz/ris-bccs/

Monash University Review of motorcycle licensing and training:
http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc240.pdf

[scracha]

Hey, but look on the bright side. I'll be able to race an RGV250 for absolute peanuts...... har har

[merv]

You see its all you novices over 30 that have been the problem says Harry

[ynot slow]

Yep must be really bad when at last at 25 your insurance premiums drop cause of maturity,then you get to 30 and they go up?due to being away from riding.

As it stands those who want to ride outside their license conditions will still do so,and they may have unregistered bikes so are not paying acc levies.

Goes a good way to appease those who need a larger bike due to distances travelling,size of person.The abolishing of 70km limit will be good for highway riding.

[rwh]

The 150kW/tonne limit seems a little low ... seems to me the VTR250 and the new ninja (and probably the old gpx) will both fail that test - they seem plenty tame enough to me.

Good news for Hyosung, I guess.

Richard

[McDuck]

The GN 250 has 130Kw per ton. It needs to be worked out wit the rider on it.

[sprag]

i guess i better book in to do my full as I can from next month so will have to do it in May, anyone know when these new rules come in, I have 2 dates, august this year and 2010 and just want to know so I dont turn up and find out i have to wait another 6 months lol

[Dave-]

meh I'll have my full in 5 months time..