Close Up (28 April) 7.00pm. Road safety

[MSTRS:Me]

The follow-up last night shows things to be going in a dangerous (for us) direction. And there is no perspective from 'our' side. A few emails from motorcyclists may help. I've sent one about the issue of daylight headlights, perhaps others could talk about hi-vis, barriers, attitudes...that sort of thing?
Closeup@tvnz.co.nz

Dear sirs

I have been following this issue with much interest, and not a little trepidation. I have my own ideas about what is 'wrong' on our roads, but will elaborate on headlight use only.

Obviously, being seen is highly desireable, but what motorcyclists would seem to experience is that 'other motorists' are not looking. For that reason it has long been a recommendation (not law) that motorcycles have their headlights on at all times. There is little in the way of research to prove that lights-on makes a huge difference for motorcycles, because we are still so often not seen. Being small (non-threatening?) and difficult to gauge in terms of proximity, approach and speed are huge factors in accidents stats. But at least our headlights go some way towards helping to make us stand out better.

It is the call for car headlights on that worries me. Because that will remove the one point of difference that motorcyclists have.
Yes, motorcyclists make up only 2% of the vehicle fleet, but we have the same rights to be on the roads as anyone...it is what we can do to decrease our vulnerability that is being threatened here.

Perhaps then, if cars go lights-on at all times, then to keep the point of difference, motorcycles must go hi-beam-on at all times?

[MSTRS:Me]

Still nothing from our perspective. Still, no wonder, when the only moaning about 'bloody cagers and shit 'they cause' is on KB.
Come on, won't someone (else) get off their arse and put in a word. It's a good opportunity for the chance of some exposure as road safety relates to us.

After emailing you last week on the subject of headlights-on as it is likely to impact (pun intended) on motorcyclists, and with your second follow-up screened (roadside with the cop) it has become quite obvious that not only are motorcyclists not seen on our roads, but that we are not seen or heard anywhere else either. So that cop thinks that if one life can be saved by daytime use of car headlights, it would be worth it. Really? How many more motorcyclists will die as a result of being invisible in a sea of headlights?