Letter from ACC

[sunhuntin]

just got this in the letter box, from acc.

dear sunhuntin

as a motorcyclist owner, you probably know first-hand about the many risks motorcyclists face when using the roads

a group here in the manawatu/wanganui region, including motorcycle clubs, the manawatu motorcycle safety group, local police and road controlling authorities, LTNZ and acc, is asking for help from motorcycle owners to try to reduce these risks.

in the past, your probably been the victim of bad driiving - or been suprised by a road hazard you didnt expect. we believe we can learn from these incidents, because for every road crash that occurs, there are probably numerous near-misses.

heres how you can help

wed like you to tell us about any near misses youve had in the last two months, using the near miss form attached. once youve completed the form, all you have to do is fold it then send it - freepost.

the information you provide will geko us identify key areas we could focus on to try to make our local roads safer.

i hope you can help us. by working together, we can make a difference.

[name censored]
acc injury prevention consultant
LEVIN.

and theres a form on the back with questions and spaces for answering. questions include: where it happened, date and time, details of what happened and what would have reduced the risk. id like to reply, i really would, but ive had so many damn near misses in the last two months, itd take a week to write em all down, and mostly the answer for what would have reduced it comes down to driver stupidity [tail gating in poor conditions, cutting off, etc] im also wondering whether i can submit my one and only accident that happened on 06 as part of this?

[Coldrider]

A near miss is as good as an event statistically, and could be used against us.

[Edbear]

A near miss is as good as an event statistically, and could be used against us.

Call me a cynic, but I'd be asking a couple of questions...

[Tank]

They knew your KB login was "sunhuntin" ?

fuck - the g'ment must be watching.

[007XX]

A side of me would like to give them the benefit of the doubt as the logic behind such an initiative sounds good.

But another side is just shouting: "yeah right...pull the other one, why don't you?"

Admitedly, new measures such as the new rules for learner and restricted licences do show that they are giving it some thought and are not too far out of reality.

I guess my take would be after reflexion: what harm can it do?

[Swoop]

Put down every speed trap and speed camera you see. They cause people to brake heavily and create near-misses.

[Edbear]

They knew your KB login was "sunhuntin" ?

fuck - the g'ment must be watching.

KB - world famous in NZ...

[Coldrider]

Call me a cynic, but I'd be asking a couple of questions...

If a near miss is out of our control, so could happen, and there are say 50 near misses to one event (injury or worse), do you think ACC premiums will go up or down?
The company I work for is an ACC accredited employer and I know what counts.

[Coldrider]

Do you pass your near misses onto your insurance company, under disclosed information that may affect your insurance premium risk?

[Patrick]

A near miss is as good as an event statistically, and could be used against us.

Call me a cynic, but I'd be asking a couple of questions...

Makes me think that ACC is giving us, the poor motorbikers, some sympathy for a change... lower ACC premiums for bikes perhaps? (once they see that most of the time, its the cars that have dopey drivers that are the main problems, not the bikers... loose gravel on corners from roadworks that have not been cleaned up properly, those sorts of things...).

Wishful thinking, on my part, perhaps????

[chanceyy]

I got the same letter .. but the only near misses I have is when there is a hazard on the road & its not warned about .. IE pea gravel

I am rather cynical about the info the are wanting .. but to my mind the conditon of some roads leaves a lot to be desired so I will only comment on this one .. esp the road out of fordell pea gravel sharp left hand bend with no warning comes instantly to mind .. how many crashes have there been there??

[Edbear]

If a near miss is out of our control, so could happen, and there are say 50 near misses to one event (injury or worse), do you think ACC premiums will go up or down?
The company I work for is an ACC accredited employer and I know what counts.

Yeah, that's why I'm a little bit skeptical as to their motive. On the face of it, it sounds innocent enough, but ACC are playing up motorcycle accident/injury statistics at the moment, how are they going to incorporate "near misses" into those?

Makes me think that ACC is giving us, the poor motorbikers, some sympathy for a change... lower ACC premiums for bikes perhaps? (once they see that most of the time, its the cars that have dopey drivers that are the main problems, not the bikers... loose gravel on corners from roadworks that have not been cleaned up properly, those sorts of things...).

Wishful thinking, on my part, perhaps????

Unfortunately, ACC don't consider the causes, just the results. It doesn't matter why you crashed, the fact that you did and cost the health system money, is what counts. Yes, bike accidents resulting in injury and death have increased disproportionately, but the fact that 75% of them are caused by car drivers, is irrelevant to them.

[chanceyy]

Yeah, that's why I'm a little bit skeptical as to their motive. On the face of it, it sounds innocent enough, but ACC are playing up motorcycle accident/injury statistics at the moment, how are they going to incorporate "near misses" into those?


Unfortunately, ACC don't consider the causes, just the results. It doesn't matter why you crashed, the fact that you did and cost the health system money, is what counts. Yes, bike accidents resulting in injury and death have increased disproportionately, but the fact that 75% of them are caused by car drivers, is irrelevant to them.

and is this a reason to make motorcyclists wear fluro vest ?? I still would prefer to know upfront what they "plan to do with this info" hmm actually might have to contact this person (since she is a local) & see if they are keen to subsidise the RRRS course I want to hold ...

[Patrick]

esp the road out of fordell pea gravel sharp left hand bend with no warning comes instantly to mind .. how many crashes have there been there??

That one nearly caught me out 2 years ago... it hasn't changed still????

Unfortunately, ACC don't consider the causes, just the results. It doesn't matter why you crashed, the fact that you did and cost the health system money, is what counts. Yes, bike accidents resulting in injury and death have increased disproportionately, but the fact that 75% of them are caused by car drivers, is irrelevant to them.

Perhaps it is a survey on the "actual causes" of why motorbikes feature so regularly? Still being hopeful, agreeing with the voices in my head for a change....

[Coldrider]

Yeah, that's why I'm a little bit skeptical as to their motive. On the face of it, it sounds innocent enough, but ACC are playing up motorcycle accident/injury statistics at the moment, how are they going to incorporate "near misses" into those?

It exposes the true risk involved in being a motorcyclist.
Motorcyclist should take that risk on themselves and be responsible about it, otherwise down the track we will lose our toys, as per other threads on KB happening overseas.