FYI - MOTO NZ impending RFP

[MrE_MaN]

Just a heads up to those that don't do business with the big govt machine, could be a good initiative if not funded by a hi-vis vest manufacturer....


Services to Investigate and Report on Options to Improve Motorcyclist Visibility

General Information
The Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) (also known as MOTO NZ) oversees the operation of the programme of initiatives funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy.

MSAC’s role is to identify initiatives to improve on-road motorcycling safety that generate a positive response from all road users and relevant authorities.

The MSAC wishes to notify potentially interested respondents that it will shortly release a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a suitably experienced supplier to undertake a project to investigate and report on options for improving motorcyclist visibility and conspicuity.

The services will be undertaken in a staged manner and may include:

• a literature review of likely effective interventions;
• validating (road testing) selected interventions for the New Zealand context (if required); and
• developing a business case for funding priority interventions.

[Katman]

You can bet your last dollar that this is heading us toward compulsory hi-viz.

We all better start opening our eyes and using our brains if we are to have any hope of not having another law imposed upon us.

[bogan]

You can bet your last dollar that this is heading us toward compulsory hi-viz.

We all better start opening our eyes and using our brains if we are to have any hope of not having another law imposed upon us.

No thanks, I just paid my rego yesterday so I'm already down to my last dollar

That is one of the main problems with high vis legislation, it sends the wrong message. Car drivers should have a good look for us no matter what we wear, and we should never assume we have been seen based on what we are wearing. Don't forget there are many reasons why high vis is not a cure all, attached is some info.

[Katman]

Don't forget there are many reasons why high vis is not a cure all, attached is some info.

Not much point preaching to me.

I'm already converted.

[bogan]

Not much point preaching to me.

I'm already converted.

Really? I never would have guessed

Maybe other bikers or even MOTONZ (of whom only one may be considered wearing high vis on their site banner) might read this and learn a thing or two.

[Pseudonym]

Jump on your bike with your vest on and have someone take a photo of you from front on.
Lights up nicely don’t it?
Now go for a ride and have someone take a photo from the front while you are moving…
The police can provide this service for a small fee via their vans.
If you’re on a sports bike you can see the tops of the shoulders and little else of the vest.
Totally worth it.
Side on you light up, but then you’re past them so what’s the point?
From behind, for those without packs, you can be seen also…
So they won’t hit you from the rear?
Better idea; don’t be in a position where they can run into you.

If they can’t see our now compulsory headlights then why would they see the vests?
And will it lull people into a false sense of security thinking that they can be seen?
Like the bloke I saw the other day in his shorts and t-shirt trundling down the motorway.
But he had a vest…
Safe…

[nodrog:Me]

My motorcycle is bright fucken green and cunts still pull out in front of it.

Test complete, who do I send an invoice to?

[MSTRS:Me]

It's the old story - those that think they know, legislate.
For the rest of us, who DO know, it wouldn't matter how many lights we have on or what colour we wear. A bubble light on our helmet wouldn't help either. For us to be seen, the other party has to be looking.
These braindead SMIDSYs pull out on B-trains too...
Try as they might, TPTB can't legislate against stupidity.

[Berries]

MSAC’s role is to identify initiatives to improve on-road motorcycling safety that generate a positive response from all road users and relevant authorities.

• a literature review of likely effective interventions;
• validating (road testing) selected interventions for the New Zealand context (if required); and
• developing a business case for funding priority interventions.

Hmmm. Well, we have no manufacturing and a small sales volume so bike equipment such as strobe lights are a non-starter, it will have to be related to rider equipment. "A positive response from all road users" means they can dress up a rider and ask ten car drivers if they can see him. A literature review will show research that wearing a white helmet means you are less likely to be hit by someone else (as I recall), so we can start there by selling nothing but plain white helmets. The only other possible options are Sam Browne belts or full on hi-viz vests. A 'selective' literature research will show they have benefits as well. They will all be seen by other road users, in testing, so the results will show they will have a massive benefit/cost ratio. They could fund a hi-viz for every licenced rider in the country based on the crash savings. Obviously they wouldn't, they'd make the filthy bikers pay for their own - oh hang on, we've already been putting in $30 per bike to the fund haven't we?

They will bring in a Rule change knowing that we are only motorcyclists and nobody cares, look at how they got the ACC levy through. Other road users will support it. MotoNZ will support it. The non reduction in crashes will no doubt be blamed on the lack of compliance that will surely ensue, so then they bang 50 demerit points on it. They then start to see a reduction in crash numbers, yay, failing to take in to account the dwindling number of riders. Although the reduction in crashes may not occur if the ever increasing number of disqualified riders keep riding and start doing more runners from the Police.

Call me a cynic, but I don't see compulsory hi-viz making things safer although it looks like a foregone conclusion to me. Cars pull out on trains FFS.

[Katman]

They then start to see a reduction in crash numbers, yay, failing to take in to account the dwindling number of riders.

And as the numbers dwindle it gets easier to pass more legislation because there's less of us to fight it.

The answer........?

1. Stop riding like twats.
2. Engage brain before riding.

[pete376403]

Go to a building site - every man and his dogs wears hi-vis - after a while you just don't see it

[MSTRS:Me]

Go to a building site - every man and his dogs wears hi-vis - after a while you just don't see it

Plus 'most' hi-vis wearers that drivers encounter are road gangs. And we all know they don't move all that fast....

The logical extension to legislating use of hi-vis, when it fails to result in a big improvement in SMIDSY stats, is something else foisted on bikers, and then something else, and so on.
And all the while, the answer is right there. DRIVER training.
Oh - and riders being a bit smarter too. (OK, Katman?)

[Pseudonym]

Call me a cynic, but I don't see compulsory hi-viz making things safer although it looks like a foregone conclusion to me. Cars pull out on trains FFS.

That’s because train drivers don’t wear the vests…

[Gremlin]

Go to a building site - every man and his dogs wears hi-vis - after a while you just don't see it

And that is going to be a very large problem (if it isn't already). They are there to make something stand out, draw attention to it etc. Paint everything in it, and it no longer stands out.

But no, we'll just keep on thinking that if we paint everything in a haz colour it will fix it...

Road workers etc really should have them, and they're going to end up in more danger when people grow haz blind.

[MSTRS:Me]

Road workers etc really should have them, and they're going to end up in more danger when people grow haz blind.

That is a good point.
Right now, I suspect that those motorists who do see the hi-vis, are used to seeing them on road gangs and basically 'switch off' to the warning, since said road gangs are invariably off the road and out of harm's way. So, having discounted the hi-vis as being pertinent to their driving/attention, MrLulledIntoInattention Motorist will simply do the same to any rider in hi-vis that he may notice.
So the plethora of hi-vis competing for the motorist's attention, will simply cease to be a factor for him. Putting ALL who wear them at greater risk.