Biker carnage on the increase (Stuff article)

[dipshit]

What I get from that "stuff it" article is that .... females driving cages, while on the cell phone ..... is the REAL problem !!!

Well that's the delusion the likes of BRONZ or Motorcycling New Zealand would like us to believe.

[Gizzit]

Well that's the delusion the likes of BRONZ or Motorcycling New Zealand would like us to believe.

Mmm ...... must be something in the way I wrote, or added silly smilies .... I intended it as humour, not a serious opinion .... However, I do take your point.

[**R1**]

they should make ever1 ride bikes, it would help keep the population down :-)

[discotex]

they should make ever1 ride bikes, it would help keep the population down :-)

And your proof for this would be southeast Asia right?

[firefighter]

To me that's like saying women should pay more tax because they use hospital and legal resources when they are raped.

Hahahahaha, very eloquently put

[dipshit]

Mmm ...... must be something in the way I wrote, or added silly smilies .... I intended it as humour, not a serious opinion .... However, I do take your point.

No indeed, your summary of that article was bang on the money.

Whenever someone like BRONZ or some other motorcycling body talks to mainstream media - there is always "it's mostly the car's fault" underlying tow.

[Slyer]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4806309a28.html
Stuff readers probably don't like us very much now.

[swbarnett]

ACC levies up for bikers!

To me that's like saying women should pay more tax because they use hospital and legal resources when they are raped.

Unfortunately there's an important difference. Being a motorcyclist is a choice, being a woman is not (unless you undergo surgery...).

[stevewederell]

While I agree with Gilbert on this - I think the same is equally valid for our 4+ wheeled compatriots.

Unlike bikers, cagers who doesn't apply sense and caution in their motoring are not unlikely to be repeat offenders.

Agreed,

Also shouldn't drink if you can't do it responsibly,

Have a firearm for same reason,

Cook if you're not hygienic,

Be a builder if you're not up to standard...

Gilbert, or fucking Dilbert - anyone can make a stat' work to whatever direction they wish to take it. Really looking forward to the levies going up again

Have a groovy New Year everyone, stay safe and lets look after each other eh?!

[Slyer]

Being a motorcyclist is a choice

This is debatable.

[swbarnett]

This is debatable.

I know what you mean...

[JMemonic]

Canterbury crash figures hot of the press

New Zealand Police Alert 1:00am 1 Jan 2009 Canterbury


Location of incident: Canterbury


Incident type: Canterbury Road Toll Press release

46 people died on Canterbury roads during 2008. 'This is a massive impact on Cantabrians' said Inspector Derek Erasmus, Road Policing Manager for the District. 'While it is 10 less than last year, which is a small blessing, the fact that so many people can be killed on our roads is a tragedy!' In the vast majority of these crashes a driver has done something wrong with disastrous consequences. They are not accidents'

The road toll of 46 compares to -

56 in 2007
33 in 2006
44 in 2005
40 in 2004
52 in 2003
41 in 2002
44 in 2001
32 in 2000

Canterbury Police spent the first six months of the year concentrating on seatbelt enforcement. Over 9,300 seatbelt tickets were issued in this time. During the year 10 of those killed were not wearing seatbelts as required. 9 of those would have or may have survived if they had been wearing belts. However this compares to 20 people killed in 2007 who were not wearing belts, 15 of whom would have survived if they had.

For the second 6 months of the year Canterbury Police concentrated on breath testing as many drivers as possible. Over 250,000 (106,000 in the same period in 2007) drivers were tested in this period. 6 people were killed as a result of alcohol compared to 21 in 2007.

Speed was an increasing factor in road deaths during 2007. 23 died as a result of travelling too fast for the conditions compared to 15 in 2007. Canterbury Police will be having a focus on speed during the first half of 2009.

Other issues of note were, 3 deaths were associated with mobility scooters (an aging population means this could be an increasing trend), 8 deaths were motorcycle related, and 5 had fatigue as a contributing cause. There were 7 deaths in Selwyn compared to 16 last year.

The total number of crashes reported to Canterbury Police for 2008 was 3,136 compared to 3,265 in 2007.

8 motorcycle deaths you will note, still waiting of course for the final figure as there are some unfortunate folks still in ICU, I see 10 less deaths than last year, 3 deaths related to mobility scooters which is odd but there they are it happened on the road, oh and reread the section on motorcycle deaths, 8 deaths yet 5 had fatigue as a contributing factor, what of the camper van driver? or of the motorcyclist cause its going to be hard to work out if the dead person was tired.

[ArcherWC]

also note that offroad (MX etc) are includded for ACC as the catch all "motorcycle accidents" but of course they dont contribute to the ACC "fund"

[ManDownUnder]

Is anyone here capable of putting together statistically valid results (i.e. those that actually demonstrate significance in their results).

I'm curious to see the following correlations:
* injuries per 10,000 motorcycles/annum
* deaths per 10,000 motorcycles/annum
* injuries per 10,000 bicycles/annum
* deaths per 10,000 bicycles/annum
* price of fuel for each year (I know - a tough one...)

I concur with the idea that cars cause the carnage, but the victim on two wheels is left to pay the bill and end up looking bad in the statistics. I expect that will manifest itself in the number of m/c AND cycle deaths and injuries (and possibly other modes of transport I haven't thought of).

I have an idea the price of fuel increasing is driving more people onto "non car" modes of transport. What is unclear from there is:
* How much does the increase in novices on 2 wheels contributes to the carnage rate?
* How much the carnage will occur because of poor car driving simply having greater opportunity for accidents because of the increase in 2 wheels traffic.

We (motorcyclists) do need to take a neutral viewpoint on this rather than simply blame the cars becuase if there is something we are doing to contribute to the carnage it's in our interests to find it and address it.

Likewise if it's the car drivers causing the problems - then they can do their bit to address the problems, and pay the bills.

Does anyone have those stats? Or - if I can get them, is anyone able to analyse them?

[Ocean1]

Canterbury crash figures hot of the press

Which Stuff is reporting as:

Middle-aged men dominated motorcycle crash figures with eight deaths in 2008 compared with three the previous year.

"Middle-aged men are rediscovering their youth on a powerful bike. It reflects a trend around the rest of the world," he said.

"Often they are inexperienced riders on a new high-powered motorcycle," Erasmus said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4807154a11.html

So, all yous old bastards down there; STOP IT!!!