Motorcycle licensing changes announced

[ducatilover]

They're from different years and different reports, i think 09 was 16x, and 10 was 18x, and a release from Prick Smith misquoted it as 20x. The figures per registered bike are still around 3.5x, but nobody's agenda gets filled using those

That's pathetic.


A few bikes may creep up in price now, I was thinking of getting another CB400 superfour to commute on, but they're overpriced as it is

[bogan]

They all fail to mention that with the large increase of number of motorbikes, and the fact that the accident rate per 1000 bikes has significantly declined.

They're saving that up until they want to put more acc tax on us I reckon, look how well it did last time... :sic:

Actually thinking about it, the mopeds they probably don't want to change because they are keeping the "motorcycle" accidents high to suit their propaganda/agenda which really brings the question what is their agenda??? Extort more money or remove bikes from the road???

Mopeds feature far less in the fatal stats, and from the total road safety numbers they generally quote, that is what they are focused on. Maybe they just didn't want to change to much at once, as I really can't see any reasons to leave the moped class unchanged. We have already seen they aren't too worried whether their propaganda sticks or not, so I doubt that is the reason.

[Katman]

They all fail to mention that with the large increase of number of motorbikes, and the fact that the accident rate per 1000 bikes has significantly declined.

Even the accident rate per 1000 bikes is meaningless.

I have 5 bikes - and it is becoming increasingly common for motorcyclists to own more than one.

[Ender EnZed]

good start but I see restricted has just become even more redundant than before. Still reckon 2yrs learners straight to full, restricted offers nothing.

+1

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only difference now will be having an L plate displayed. Given that the restricted test is piss easy (has anyone ever failed it on a bike?), it seems like a waste of paperwork having the extra class between Learners and Full.

[slofox]

Will wait and see what the hidden things are!

Like "6km/hr speed limit and man with red flag and bell to walk in front" ?

[Ender EnZed]

I have 5 bikes - and it is becoming increasingly common for motorcyclists to own more than one.

Any evidence for that?

Without doing any research: I would expect number of motorcycles per motorcyclist to increase with wealth which generally increases with age. I'm sure the average age of motorcyclists is much higher now than in the 70s but I wouldn't be so confident about the last 10 years. The born agains might be balanced out by the more recently licenced, who tend to be younger.

This is of course speculation, I'm hoping someone will be bothered proving me right or wrong.

[Katman]

Any evidence for that?

Yeah, I counted them on my fingers before I posted.

[Scuba_Steve]

(has anyone ever failed it on a bike?)

Yea I have, blew an indicator bulb on the way there, the wanker wouldn't even let me run across the road to the shell to pick up a new one, fuck that pissed me off...

[bogan]

Any evidence for that?

Without doing any research: I would expect number of motorcycles per motorcyclist to increase with wealth which generally increases with age. I'm sure the average age of motorcyclists is much higher now than in the 70s but I wouldn't be so confident about the last 10 years. The born agains might be balanced out by the more recently licenced, who tend to be younger.

This is of course speculation, I'm hoping someone will be bothered proving me right or wrong.

That sort of thing is at the limit of what stats can provide, multiple bike ownership may be one for yourself and one for the wife or kids or work etc, older licensed riders might not ride anymore.... I agree with katman in that it is still not a perfect measure, but I think it is far more meaningful than a per/km one. Better yet would be a distribution table with number of kms traveled along one axis, and relative risk on the other. Even just a per/km measure for the different cc brackets I think would paint a different picture.

[Scuba_Steve]

Any evidence for that?

Without doing any research: I would expect number of motorcycles per motorcyclist to increase with wealth which generally increases with age. I'm sure the average age of motorcyclists is much higher now than in the 70s but I wouldn't be so confident about the last 10 years. The born agains might be balanced out by the more recently licenced, who tend to be younger.

This is of course speculation, I'm hoping someone will be bothered proving me right or wrong.

if it helps I'm on (or below?) the avg NZ wage, younger than the "average age" you speak of & I have 3 bikes (2 road going).

[Vinz0r]

When are these proposed changes due to go through?

[Edit] Nevermind, apparently my reading comprehension is lacking. "which will come into force in October this year or October 2012".

[Katman]

Any evidence for that?

I was going to say, "I set up a poll about it a while ago" (not very accurate evidence, I know) - but then realised that might upset Maha again.

[Voltaire]

Has anyone else noticed the claimed "20 times more likely blah blah" is always changing? I've read 16x, 19x and God knows what else

This could be used by MAGNZ or whomever couldn't it? If there are going to be big claims like that made, a bit of consistency would go a long way.

Riding to work on the motorway with the poor standard of driving you get here I fell at least 20 time more vulnerable than in my very solid 2001 VW van.
I see lots of scooters on my other commute down Dom Road....they ride like they are visible and drivers care....... I did not realize you could ride one on a car licence

[Ender EnZed]

I was going to say, "I set up a poll about it a while ago" (not very accurate evidence, I know) - but then realised that might upset Maha again.

I'm sure the average number of motorcycles per current motorcyclist is far greater than 1, just not that there's any reason to think that this number (whatever it is) is higher now than 10 years ago.

That sort of thing is at the limit of what stats can provide

Would it be difficult to find the number of newly registered bikes, number of bike registrations cancelled and number of Class 6 learner licences issued in each year?

[rastuscat]

I heard Charlie Lamb speak last night. He loves stats.

Basically I came away thinking that you can choose a position on something, then manipulate the stats to suit. Worked for Nick Smith.

According to Charlie, the worst bike in terms of crashes is a 250. It's the most common engine size by far. Heaps more than any other engine size. And why? Coz the riders of 250s are, normally, the most inexperienced group. SURPRISE !!

So why does my bloody 800 cost so much to relicence?

Harumph............