Temporary Kiwi?

[90s]

1980 - motorcyclists killed (91; 15% road toll) & injured (3222, 20%)
2006 - motorcyclists killed (38; 10% road toll) & injured (1017, 10%)

Well we seem to be getting less temporary all the time.
The truth is always a total defence against defamation


Source: Ministry of Transport 2008, motorcycle accidents 1980-2006

[R6_kid:Me]

If anyone calls you a temporary citizen/kiwi/whatever then tell them to change their undies and hope they dont get hit by a bus.

[Radar]

1980 - motorcyclists killed (91; 15% road toll) & injured (3222, 20%)
2006 - motorcyclists killed (38; 10% road toll) & injured (1017, 10%)

Well we seem to be getting less temporary all the time.
The truth is always a total defence against defamation


Source: Ministry of Transport 2008, motorcycle accidents 1980-2006

The news media often quotes MOT statistics like this, mainly for car accidents.
All seems good until these are taken into consideration:

1. Roads are safer as compared to 1980. Big improvements such as better pavement, camber, warning signs, intersections, etc.

2. Medical ER advances. Fewer people die. OK, injuries are in fact less but I wonder how many bikers are on the road now compared to 1980 (compared to cars and general population); I've heard that motorcycling has been steadily declining.

3. Safety gear. 1980: Open face helmets and maybe leather jackets.

4. Bikes now have improved tyres, suspension, lighting, etc. Cars and trucks also have better brakes, etc.

5. Better licensing. Correct me if I am wrong here - in 1980 did it take 6 + 12 months for under 25's to get their full, and were there two on road exams as well as the basic skills exam?

6. Fewer alcohol related accidents. I could be wrong here but now theres a lot more anti-DUI adverts, policing and general awareness of alcohol and driving/riding.

[elpigaro]

Hey Man, I understand the frustration here in Ireland there are a number of ways you can approach the problem,
A : scream your MO Fo head off
B: Laugh your ass off they are normally cagers who dont have the skill or the stones to ride a bike.
C; Practice your sign language
End of the day if the red mist clouds your vision you will end up dead, chill out and enjoy the ride
Elpigaro

[90s]

The news media often quotes MOT statistics like this, mainly for car accidents.
All seems good until these are taken into consideration:

1. Roads are safer as compared to 1980. Big improvements such as better pavement, camber, warning signs, intersections, etc.

2. Medical ER advances. Fewer people die. OK, injuries are in fact less but I wonder how many bikers are on the road now compared to 1980 (compared to cars and general population); I've heard that motorcycling has been steadily declining.

3. Safety gear. 1980: Open face helmets and maybe leather jackets.

4. Bikes now have improved tyres, suspension, lighting, etc. Cars and trucks also have better brakes, etc.

5. Better licensing. Correct me if I am wrong here - in 1980 did it take 6 + 12 months for under 25's to get their full, and were there two on road exams as well as the basic skills exam?

6. Fewer alcohol related accidents. I could be wrong here but now theres a lot more anti-DUI adverts, policing and general awareness of alcohol and driving/riding.

Per mile driven are more motorcyclists having accidents than before? Answer no. The number of motorcyclists is up, but not as a percentage of drivers (hence the 'decline' argument). You could just say car growth has outstripped bike growth. This makes the overall reduction in accidents and deaths more interesting. It doesn't matter what the factors are, they result overall that the term "temporary kiwi" is less true than it used to be.
In other threads where I have discussed stats in more details the interesting stuff in the data is about who is crashing, rather than the overall numbers. But I'm not reposting all that stuff here.

When points out I am likely to crash, I point out that as I have crashed therfore my quota is filled. Have they had their big car smash yet?

[madandy]

"Temporary Kiwi aye?"
"Yeah I've been thinking of leaving for *insert nation here* for some time now"

[Radar]

When points out I am likely to crash, I point out that as I have crashed therfore my quota is filled.

I like it, even though statistically it does not hold, I still like it as a great come back to cagers who do the temp kiwi thing.

[90s]

I like it, even though statistically it does not hold, I still like it as a great come back to cagers who do the temp kiwi thing.

I doesn't?

I've been riding as though I was bullet proof because I thought we were allocated 1 off each. Right, I'm off to write to StatsNZ & Helen Clarke to sort it out