OK. I call bullshit on the AA

[chickenfunkstar]

I have and it does....

Just as I suspected then.
I'll have to stop shaving for a while.

[Wolf]

Just as I suspected then.
I'll have to stop shaving for a while.

Wait'll you get as hairy as I am - you start having anti-accidents (when you go out for a ride and come back in better shape than when you left)

[Ixion]

UPDATE:

Spoke by phone to Greg Hunting

"We were misquoted . We were misquoted"

He claims the 80 times figure "came from some paper at a conference". he is trying to find what paper ! (Talk about verifying your fatcs).

Doesn't know if the figures even relate to NZ !

Put him on the spot whether he will contact the Harold to seek a retraction/correction " Yes, I'm getting stuff together for that". He claims he is trying to find what the AA spokesperson (not him) actually said. Seems they have no idea !

He claims that what they were TRYING to say was that it was unwise for car drivers to just jump on a two-wheeler, relying on their car license (ie the moped thing again) .

I think he is in no doubt that he has stirred up a hornet's nest.

Onward now to the Harold

[DemonWolf]

Sweet... We'll see if anything actually comes out of this... I really hope it does..

Good work Ixion!

[XP@]

....
He claims that what they were TRYING to say was that it was unwise for car drivers to just jump on a two-wheeler, relying on their car license (ie the moped thing again) .

I think he is in no doubt that he has stirred up a hornet's nest.

Ah well... maybe they should put together a "Getting on to M/C's" campaign aimed at car drivers... now would be a REALLY good time to do it!

Hopefully there will be enough of a reaction that something like that can be done.... my email to him was a little critical of their views

[HenryDorsetCase]

I told the AA to get fucked when they supported the introduction of hidden speed cameras. It doesnt surprise me they are lying bastards.

Problem is they have a well oiled machine for getting their message out there, and a news media only too willing to take their message on board, and who are too lazy to question their statistics.

Give em hell, but dont be surprised to receive a polite PFO.*

[oldrider]

Good thread ixion, when challenged, the AA in their biased way rely upon the adage:

"WE WITHDRAW THE REMARK YOUR HONOUR" but the stain remains.

Unaffected ignorant people are then tricked into believing a desired false notion.

We are all currently being bombarded by political equivalence of this AA style bullshit, every day. It's intended for the persuasion of the gullible masses.

The political fervor will calm soon but the AA will continue to try and attack us every day. Bastards. Stick it to them ixion.

With you, John.

[Wolf]

Give em hell, but dont be surprised to receive a polite PFO.*

If you do, give them a not-so-polite FU2

[Ixion]

Good thread ixion, when challenged, the AA in their biased way rely upon the adage:

"WE WITHDRAW THE REMARK YOUR HONOUR" but the stain remains.

Unaffected ignorant people are then tricked into believing a desired false notion.

..

This is what really pisses me off about it. Most of us have had problems at one time or other with wives, husbands, SOs etc being opposed to our riding because of the "danger".

This sort of crap just reinforces that worry .

And how many potential young riders will never get started because their parents see that "80 times as dangerous" and say "No way are you ever getting a motorcycle"

And to my mind, making such an extreme claim shows that it was deliberately done to bag motorcycling.

If they had said "the risk of injury on motorcycles is much greater [ or several times , or something] than cars" then I'd have had no issue. We all know that

But claiming 80 times moves it from a genuine good faith warning into a deliberate attack.

(Mr Hunting claims he will send me the paper it was based on when he finds it. Also points that that it related to large motorcycles. Which as I pointed out to him makes it worse since the article was about commuting. Why tell people they shouldn't buy a scooter because superbikes have a high injury rate. )

UPDATE : Contacted the Harold, threatened the Press Council (may still do that) waiting for the Chief Reporter to call me back.

[Big Dave]

MacKay said when I reported all this, something along the lines of
'they should of had someone from the importers assoc or BRONZ etc's views in the article as well, rather than just the one side of the arguement.'

[Hitcher]

The Harald's editor is Tim Murphy: tim.murphy@nzherald.co.nz

Make sure you note that what you have sent is a letter intended for publication.

And George Fairbairn has left the AA. Go for Greg Hunting instead.

[MD]

Well done Xion.
I just emailed this to G Hunting at AA and have written to the Dompost.

As a long standing AA member (card No...plus my wife) who drive cars AND motorcycles I wish to voice my disapproval of recent radio news and Herald comments by the AA discouraging car drivers from switching to commuting by motorbike/scooters because of safety.
This is flawed logic.
Less cars on the roads means less danger to riders - its the cars we tend to hit or more commonly they hit us. A drift from cars to scooters/bikes will raise car drivers awareness of cyclists by their increased presence on the roads, another improvement to cyclists safety.
I believe if you compare the number of car registrations per car accident to the number of m/bike reistrations per bike accident bikes come out safer.
With petrol inevitably going to get dearer the AA would better serve the community and its members by positive actions such as suggestions and tips on learning to ride properly and on choosing the right scoot for the commute. Most under 50cc scoots not requiring a bike licence are not suitable or capable of travelling above 70kph.
There may be a risk of mature drivers thinking "I had a bike licence back in the seventies (briefly maybe) so I can handle a mans bike" These born again riders are most at risk of overstepping their abilities with modern bikes. Todays' young people are forced to ride under 250cc bikes and therefore learn at a gradual pace. Something seriously missing from car licencing.

It would be nice to hear more on the News from the AA correcting 'any misconceptions' caused by your recent comments.

[Hitcher]

Good thread ixion, when challenged, the AA in their biased way rely upon the adage:

"WE WITHDRAW THE REMARK YOUR HONOUR" but the stain remains.

Unaffected ignorant people are then tricked into believing a desired false notion.

We are all currently being bombarded by political equivalence of this AA style bullshit, every day. It's intended for the persuasion of the gullible masses.

Welcome to my world...

[Sniper]

Seems like this tends to be the PC New Zealand part acting up again. Once they are pointed out that their statement was incorrect, they point the finger somewhere else and not just stand up and say, I did wrong, Im sorry, I will try fix it. Bloody high earners

[Ixion]

UPDATE - Email form Greg Hunting (attached)

Summary - the "study" relied on was an Australian one - so the figures are not NZ ones. The source is not referenced. And the relative fatality rates (though extreme, and I don't believe them) are still less than 80 times.

I'm trying to track down the source now

Still haven't heard from the Chief Reporter of the Harold

But on my reading it does look like the Harold has reasonably faithfully reported what the AA said. (whether they should check such things may be another matter). So I reckon it's still with the AA to prove or retract