Letter in Saturday's Harold - Police to target motorcyclists

[MotoGirl]

There was a comment on 3 News after the official holiday period ended that mentioned the goals for the year: reduce the road toll, target speeding, and target motorcyclists. There was no mention of exactly what they're targeting motorcyclists for.

[Badjelly]

There was a comment on 3 News after the official holiday period ended that mentioned the goals for the year: reduce the road toll, target speeding, and target motorcyclists. There was no mention of exactly what they're targeting motorcyclists for.

Or with.

[vifferman]

As far as keeping left on unlaned roads , the Road Code says:

"To stay well out of the way of oncoming vehicles, always keep as close as possible to the left side of the road."

and follows it with a picture showing cars and bikes on an unlaned road, with the bikes not keeping as close as possible to the left side of the road.

It used to say, "...as close to the left as practicable". Perhaps people don't know what that means, which is a shame, as it's much more meaningful and pragmatic than "possible".

[FastBikeGear]

There was a comment on 3 News after the official holiday period ended that mentioned the goals for the year: reduce the road toll, target speeding, and target motorcyclists. There was no mention of exactly what they're targeting motorcyclists for.

I think the police should come out and state they are going to target those cultural groups/races who represent a greater proportion of convicted criminals - I am of course not seriously suggesting this ...but it has the same logic as targetting motorcyclists. Had a big argument in our family over this today.

[Badjelly]

It used to say, "...as close to the left as practicable". Perhaps people don't know what that means, which is a shame, as it's much more meaningful and pragmatic than "possible".

Indeed. Imagine if people really did keep as close to the left as possible. Lets be generous and allow them half a metre . So all the vehicles would be driving along 0.5 m from the gutter, pulling out to go around parked cars, then back into position 0.5 m from the gutter. When it's a conflict between the Road Code and common sense, the choice is obvious.

[swbarnett]

If your responsibility was to reduce road deaths it would make sense to take a closer look at what's killing us.

If they really did take an "honest" closer look they'd find that the problem is that there are more bikes on the road. The increase in motorcycle related deaths is directly proportional to this.

Maybe they know this already and realise that the only way to reduce motorcycle related deaths is to reduce the number of motorcycles?

I would start by making protective boots, gloves, jackets and pants compulsory (ATGATT).

Some bikers really don't like bikes. This sort of thinking is very counter-productive. It is imperative that we all be allowed to choose our own risk level and our own ways of mitigating the risks we face.

The first thing on any protective clothing list lies between your ears. Someone wearing nothing except for this is a lot safer than one in full gear that's left theirs at home.

[scumdog]

The first thing on any protective clothing list lies between your ears. Someone wearing nothing except for this is a lot safer than one in full gear that's left theirs at home.

Summed up quite nicely.....

[Katman]

This whole 'the motorcyclist's road toll is increasing proportionally with the increase of bikes on the road' is bullshit.

The road toll for motorcyclists has always been disproportionately high for the percentage of road users we make up. Time everyone woke up to that fact.

[Ixion]

Well, of course it has.That's a silly argument. So has cyclists. So has pedestrians. For the same reason. No metal shielding. For the same reason, truck drivers is disproportionately low. Cos clearly, if a truck and a motorcycle collide, it doesn't take an Einstein to work out which one is more likely to be killed dead.

[Katman]

Cos clearly, if a truck and a motorcycle collide, it doesn't take an Einstein to work out which one is more likely to be killed dead.

The basis of your argument makes as much sense as dropping your bottom lip, stamping your feet and crying "It's not fair - car drivers can drive like fuckwits and survive accidents - why can't we?"

[cs363]

Plus if half of what gets posted on here about the exploits of some of the "Legends" is only part truth, you got say, it had to happen.

Would that be a case of the Few stuffing it up for the many?

[cs363]

He's probably referring to this

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4804914a11.html

"Motorcycle safety would be targeted in a new 10-year government road safety strategy to be launched early next year, she said."

This guy: Quote 'The Canterbury regional co-ordinator of Motorcycling New Zealand, Ray Shearman, said he had been riding motorcycles for over 50 years.

More people were getting on to motorcycles because they were cheaper to run.

"All I've done is lost me finger one finger and a broken leg through no fault of my own," Shearman said.

He regularly rode with "about 50 other jokers all different shapes and sizes, and they're all careful riders, they all want to see tomorrow," he said.

"You can't take too many risks. I've been cut off by bloody car drivers and they're friggin' females and the people using cellphones when they're driving and that's absolutely dangerous.

"I got cleaned up by a Land Rover and the joker said to me `Oh, I was planning my day,' and I said `Well I was planning my bloody day before I left home at 5.45am."

"It's cheap transport, I'll say that much. But riding a motorcycle, you've got to be careful."
' end quote.


Is a fucking idiot.

[swbarnett]

This whole 'the motorcyclist's road toll is increasing proportionally with the increase of bikes on the road' is bullshit.

The point of this argument is that nothing has changed so people need to stop claiming that we motorcyclists are in more danger than ever - we're not.

The road toll for motorcyclists has always been disproportionately high for the percentage of road users we make up. Time everyone woke up to that fact.

People make mistakes.

This is a fact that noone can change unless you believe in an omnipotent being.

The mistake per mile ratio is probably the same irrespective of the vehicle type (I suspect it's actually lower for experienced motorcyclists). This brings me to my second fact - a mistake on a motorcycle is likely to be more costly than in any other land-based motorised vehicle. This is something that we, as motorcyclists, accept because of the rewards motorcycling brings.

The above leads logically to the fact that the death and injury toll will always be higher for motorcycles. Get used to it.

[Katman]

This brings me to my second fact - a mistake on a motorcycle is likely to be more costly than in any other land-based motorised vehicle.

And the fact that most of those mistakes are the fault of irresponsible or incompetant riding is the reason we are copping the attention that we currently are.

[swbarnett]

And the fact that most of those mistakes are the fault of irresponsible or incompetant riding is the reason we are copping the attention that we currently are.

Or maybe it's just the fact that the machines are operated my a fallibale being?

You don't have to be irresponsible or incompetant to make mistakes, just human.