Crash statistics

[TheDemonLord]

Hads' original premise is though, higher kms are better. My premise is, there are other factors involved.

I would put that Higher Kms are better - I grant that other factors are involved - but if one were to take a large enough sample size and compare riders who regurlarly did high Kms on their bikes and compared them to riders who didn't, then worked out injuries per Km travelled, I would put forward that those who did higher Kms would fare better than those who didn't.

would be interesting to see some solid data though - I could be wrong - but the habits of riders who ride everyday compared to those who just ride in the summer/for fun would tend to suggest my hypothesis is correct.

[Hads]

We didn't used to have a riding season in this country, as they do in colder climes. The increased ACC levy has changed that to a degree, many people put their rego on hold over the winter months with a consequent signficant drop in their motorcycling mileage.

Is it possible therefore that the increase in ACC levies has made motorcyclists less safe?

Statistics from 2007 to 2013 would imply not, riding in winter is more dangerous than summer.

[Hads]

I would put that Higher Kms are better - I grant that other factors are involved - but if one were to take a large enough sample size and compare riders who regurlarly did high Kms on their bikes and compared them to riders who didn't, then worked out injuries per Km travelled, I would put forward that those who did higher Kms would fare better than those who didn't.

would be interesting to see some solid data though - I could be wrong - but the habits of riders who ride everyday compared to those who just ride in the summer/for fun would tend to suggest my hypothesis is correct.

Unfortunately I don't think it goes to that kind of detail, I would presume possibly because gathering it would be difficult considering the number of kms driven isn't even in the same publication of data.

[Zedder]

I would put that Higher Kms are better - I grant that other factors are involved - but if one were to take a large enough sample size and compare riders who regurlarly did high Kms on their bikes and compared them to riders who didn't, then worked out injuries per Km travelled, I would put forward that those who did higher Kms would fare better than those who didn't.

would be interesting to see some solid data though - I could be wrong - but the habits of riders who ride everyday compared to those who just ride in the summer/for fun would tend to suggest my hypothesis is correct.

If you start from my first post (number 25) you'll hopefully see what I mean.

[swbarnett]

Of those that ride - how many here can say that you ride your bike everyday, or that you consistently put in more than 10000 km a year on your bikes?

I'll put my hand up. I commute daily Tuakau to Auckland CBD and still ride the odd weekend and when on holiday. 30,000km+ annually. There is no way in hell I'm 30 times more likely to die or be seriously injured on a bike than in a car. More likely perhaps (even this is debatable) but certainly not by that much.

if you consider that you might do 20-30000 km driving a car in a year and all the experianced gained, compare to only 1000-2000 Km a year on a bike (also with all the experiance gained) is it much wonder that we are more than 10 times more likely to suffer an accident?

True. I would love to see these stats split into "serious daily riders" and "weekend warriors".

[baffa]

Actually, I want to see scooter stats vs motorbike stats.

Or dirt bikes vs road bikes

[rustic101]

I'll put my hand up. I commute daily Tuakau to Auckland CBD and still ride the odd weekend and when on holiday. 30,000km+ annually. There is no way in hell I'm 30 times more likely to die or be seriously injured on a bike than in a car. More likely perhaps (even this is debatable) but certainly not by that much.


True. I would love to see these stats split into "serious daily riders" and "weekend warriors".

Add to that sessional riders as there seem to be more crashes in summer. I could be wrong and base that of my observations as have no data.

[OddDuck]

The stats sure as hell are sobering.

The main question would be what does one do with them?

I mean, how exactly does one convince those who are risk tolerant to become a little more risk averse?

Yeah, good luck with that... It's brain wiring and emotion. If the wiring isn't there then they aren't able to assess risk correctly (pretty well known with under 25's, usually guys). Emotion is another story and can affect any of us, just see what happens to me after a couple of k's behind a pensioner.

My pet theory on it is that crazy guys score hot chicks and have kids. There's always going to be some loose units running around the place.

[TheDemonLord]

I'll put my hand up. I commute daily Tuakau to Auckland CBD and still ride the odd weekend and when on holiday. 30,000km+ annually. There is no way in hell I'm 30 times more likely to die or be seriously injured on a bike than in a car. More likely perhaps (even this is debatable) but certainly not by that much.

I agree, but would rephrase slightly:

You're less likely to have the accident in the first place due to riding daily and constantly using your hazard awareness etc. - that said if you were to actually have the accident - you probably would suffer more injuries of greater severity than if you had the same accident whilst in a car.....

True. I would love to see these stats split into "serious daily riders" and "weekend warriors".

Me too - it would make for some interesting discussion about both Motorcycling in NZ and the Culture of NZ riders.

[Hads]

They do break it down by age though, 20 - 24 have the most accidents, not sure though if that is relevant, as there might be more riders in that age bracket.

[Night Falcon]

Here's a more alarming statistic: 1 out of every 1 person dies regardless of weather they ride a motorcycle or not.

[98tls]

Here's a more alarming statistic: 1 out of every 1 person dies regardless of weather they ride a motorcycle or not.

Weather has a lot to answer for,i blame Huey.....

[rastuscat]

Statistics from 2007 to 2013 would imply not, riding in winter is more dangerous than summer.

I'd contend that that fact is due to lesser daylight, and I suspect an increase in SMIDSY crashes as a result.

While riders can influence the likelihood of SMIDSYs they are still the fault of the opposing driver.

So if suggest that a seasonal increase in crashes at a time when many riders have garaged their bikes is not an indicator of riding ability, rather the tendency of other road users not to see motorcyclists and cyclists being aggravated by the reduced daylight.

[rastuscat]

Me too - it would make for some interesting discussion about both Motorcycling in NZ and the Culture of NZ riders.

Really interesting topic right there. About culture, of which demographics would be an interesting thread.

The motorcycling demographic that polarises a lot of people is the Power Ranger on the bike model ending with lots of Rs. The bike that comes out once a week or less often, and which won't operate unless the rider has matching leathers with a back protector and sliders all over. And of course a helmet with The Doctor splashed across it.

I've always been more a fan of The Cure, than of The Doctor.

Sunday comes, they dress up like Valentino Rossi, and ride on public roads as if in qualifying for a local GP.

I've always been dim on those, as all it takes to join that crowd is a big cheque book and an ego to match.

Of course there are those in that group who are totally skilled and risk averse, but sadly they get lumped in with the rest.

They seem to be the ones with the Go Pro obsession too. Both to record their own exploits and those of other people who they want to capture doing dumb stuff so they can post it on social media.

Just venting really.

[Zedder]

Here's a more alarming statistic: 1 out of every 1 person dies regardless of weather they ride a motorcycle or not.

Please supply deaths data and weather charts for the last 12 months.