If you think that report was half missing, then you should read the report in
Sunday Herald of 24th January 2021 by Luke Kirkness. If you are subscriber it's available beyond the NZHerald's pay-wall:
Motorcyclist death toll worst in 25 years..
If you're not a subscriber, let me quote some passages from the report where two experts are questioned - one is Josh Kronfeld, former All Black, and the other is John Cameron, Harley Owners Group Auckland chapter president.
Quote Josh Kronfeld:
Harley-Davidson fanatic and former All Black Josh Kronfeld says motorcyclists are always on alert for danger, with other road users often putting them at risk.
"Motorcyclists are so constantly having to be in that awareness that someone is going to do something wrong in a car. That's every time you go to ride. "Unfortunately there's a lot of hazards that come with [motorcycling]. We as riders all know that and it's just part of the game."
When Josh was confronted with this from NZTA: "The NZTA data, provided by the crash analysis system (CAS), found the rider was likely to have primary responsibility in 73 per cent of the deadly motorcycle crashes between 2015 and 2019. The comparable figure for minor injury crashes was 55 per cent and 39 per cent for multiple vehicle crashes."
Josh response: "Kronfeld wasn't sure what to make of the CAS figures and wondered if they factored in other issues such as the possibility of a pothole or shingle on the road, wandering livestock or even a dip hidden in the road's camber."
Josh went on to say:
"They're factors that you assume the police put into it but how can you tell if they're 100 metres off the road off the bike?".
"It's only happened because of that initial issue and they've tried to save themselves."
Josh's explanation for the crashes:
"One of the leading causes of crashes was as simple as other drivers not seeing them on the road."
He continued:
"Every time I go for a ride there's an incident where someone pulls out from another lane, hasn't seen you, and you're not doing anything ridiculous." and he added
"People just haven't seen you when they look in their side mirror or they haven't looked over their shoulder to check their blind spot. That's such an easy moment to wipe you out."
John Cameron's solution is simple...
John Cameron said it was often the obnoxiously loud motorcycles that kept riders safe.
"Loud bikes save lives because if you hear us at least you can be aware something is out there. People complain the bikes are too noisy but I'd much rather you hear me coming because you're not looking at me."
And Cameron's main complaint: Cameron said people using their phones behind the wheel was his biggest worry.
and we, motorcyclists are getting the blame: He [Cameron] was not surprised to see motorcyclists blamed for crashes but thought the CAS numbers were not all they were chalked up to be.
A little bit of insight from Cameron
"Motorcyclists are by no means impeccable on the road, and we also have to up our game by riding smarter."
The last part:
Kronfeld said: "Most of the media accidents reported are of someone doing something dumb.
"Someone travelling the country does a three-point turn on a corner [in front of you] or something - you're not expecting that. They're the ones that get highlighted."
Cameron wants to see the New Zealand driving test have a section added to involve motorcycles, in a bid to better educate people.
Meanwhile, Kronfeld urged road users - motorcyclists and other vehicle drivers alike - to be more alert when travelling.
"I think for everyone to be safe it's important to be constantly looking for a hazard, it doesn't matter if you're on a bike, in a car, on a pushbike or skateboard," he said.
"When you're out on the road, you [should be] looking for something to go wrong."
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