MoT targeting motorcyclists for new restrictions

**Ixion** · 26th July 2006, 09:04

Yep. We're in their sights.

The MoT are ramping up to introduce a new round of restrictions , including lower speed limits and demerit points for speed cameras.

They're holding a series of fake stage managed "workshops", to provide a veneer of public consultation.

The handout booklet for the workshops shows that we're one of their targets

The greatest savings in lives have
taken place among the 15 to 24 year
old population, illustrated by the steep
drop in the top line of Figure 2.
Less improvement is evident among
the 0 – 14 year olds and those aged
between 40 and 70 years.
Fatalities for all user groups have declined
since 1990. However, the numbers of
motorcycle crash fatalities have fl attened
out over the last 5 years and there are
concerns that motorcycle crashes will start
increasing again given the rapid increase in
sales of motorised two wheel vehicles over
the last 18 months.

So, GET OFF YOUR ARSES AND GET INTO THOSE WORKSHOPS.And stick it to them.

The workshop dates and times are at
http://safeas.govt.nz/safeas-workshops.html

Yes. they ARE at the most inconvenient places and times. You don't think they're going to make it easy for you do you? And yes, the first ones HAVE been and gone. They did a good job of keeping them secret.

The propaganda booklets are here:
http://safeas.govt.nz/safeas-downloads.html

There are some interesting figures in them.

The main website is here:
http://safeas.govt.nz/index.html

And there is a forum here

http://www.safeas.govt.nz/smf/

Get posting on that!

**Finn** · 26th July 2006, 09:10

I don't get it Ixion. How can they target bikes by lowering the speed limit and increasing demerit points? This won't go through. One set of laws for all motorists.

As for holding a series of fake stage managed "workshops", to provide a veneer of public consultation, this is how central & local government get most of their hair brained, ideoligy bullshit through. The punters don't get it. It's disgusting.

**bobsmith** · 26th July 2006, 09:11

YEAH!!! let's take over their forum and tell them what we really think!!! just like we did with the americans re. white trash.

**kickingzebra** · 26th July 2006, 09:17

And in that nasty little booklet, it advocates the use of controlling the power to weight ratio of motorcycles!!
I know this won't bother the honda riders too much, but I don't want to buy a 16 horsepower single cylinder gsxr 1000!!
Go to the websites, read the info, come along and argue!!

**Zukin** · 26th July 2006, 09:17

I think what they are doing is changing the rules for ALL motorists.

They admit that people arent paying their fines, so what they want to do, is change the rules

Speeding - Less of a fine, but more demerits
Public Holidays - Double demerits for speeding offences
Speed Cameras - Introduce Demerit points

And loads more ideas
Whilst I think that some ideas are good (cause I dont speed, I have a racecar for that

) others wont make it past the draft stage.

**James Deuce** · 26th July 2006, 09:25

Zukin, you dork (meant in a conversational, convivial pub atmosphere type way). Think about it.

Speed Camera demerits = The registered owner gets the demerits, not the driver. Registered owner and driver are not always the same thing.

Speeding - more demerits, lesser fines = huge numbers of unlicensed drivers.

Double Demerits for Holiday periods = potential loss of seasonal earnings for traditional Kiwi Holiday sites.

Motorcycle deaths are NOT going up with the increase in two wheeled regos. Their own damn stats show that. How come they can't analyse stats that don't provide the picture they want? The number of deaths will be greater than for the preceding lower number of registered bikes over time, but as a percentage of all road deaths, two-wheeled fatalities are plummeting.

**Swoop** · 26th July 2006, 09:29

Originally Posted by Zukin

And loads more ideas
Whilst I think that some ideas are good (cause I dont speed, I have a racecar for that

) others wont make it past the draft stage.

Unfortunately "the draft stage" is the issue. Consultation with the public and "interested parties or groups" is where they get their ammunition from. One person saying something silly at one of these meetings like "well technically I am against speeding, but in the right place and time it is perfectly safe" will be twisted around to "I support cracking down on speeders".

One these pencil-dicked public servants have a veneer of "support" they will have justification to reccommend changes to our laws.

EDIT: Bejeebers! What a load of lies in their documents!!! Lies, damned lies and statistics alright!

**Lou Girardin** · 26th July 2006, 10:39

Thinking that fatals may increase is grounds for changing laws?
Is Clive Matthew-Wilson one of their policy makers?
They just get better all the time don't they?

**u4ea** · 26th July 2006, 10:43

just added my 2cents worth ...........thanx for the insight

**FzerozeroT** · 26th July 2006, 11:41

Well, I've just spammed every e-mail address I could get with details of the meetings, wonder how many people in car clubs etc will give a shit?

-I've already got 5 Delivery Status Notifications

**emaN** · 26th July 2006, 11:58

Cheers Ix,
printing now...

been checking out the forums too. (here's hoping they get read & taken on-board!)

**McJim** · 26th July 2006, 12:17

I think their real motive lies in Petrol Tax. 2 wheels use less than 4 as we all know. Tax is gathered at punitive levels on fuel in New Zealand funding many non - traffic related expenditures. If the trend towards 2 wheels continues the govt is looking at a big loss in Tax yield. If less fatalities is really their goal then they should look at straightening and widening the main roads. The government victimises Bikes in the UK too to the extent that most motorcyclists there are incredibly wealthy middle aged people. It's too much of a nanny state - what they are saying here is "we don't want you to harm yourself and your pillion passenger (where appropriate) - we'd rather you got a cheap high performance imported car to ensure that when you do have an accident you're guaranteed to wipe out at least eight people in a head on collision." Bikes rarely harm innocents - cars wipe out entire families.

**madboy** · 26th July 2006, 12:22

Well since I ignore speed limits, seldom run a plate (can't post a ticket to the registered owner of a bike you can't identify) and even more seldom stop for a ticketing, I don't really see how any of this will affect me. Given that I MUST be a prime candidate for dying on a motorcycle before most of you, shouldn't they be targeting reckless lawbreakers like me? Go give the Highway Patrol 1000cc sportsbikes and a helicopter in Wgtn THEN watch my speed come down. Commodores, camera vans and overweight BMWs are no deterrent.

Instead you lot who kinda sorta obey the laws, and often get caught for your usually minor offences, will pay the price. Thanks for taking the rap for me. Remind me I owe you a beer sometime.