Safer roads by 2020 Yeah right?

[MDR2]

Came across this at work today and looks as though it could impact on us quite a bit so it might be in everyones best interest to have a look and maybe have your say on the site - http://www.saferjourneys.govt.nz/

Im almost certain theres a fair few people on here who think they could clean up the roads if they were in power, time to back up all that chin wagging and see what you can do.

Below are some proposals on how they intend to make motocycling safe, some good some bad, some might sem unfair.

Increasing the safety of motorcycling


Motorcyclists are over-represented in the crash statistics. In 2008, 50 motorcyclists were killed, 456 were seriously injured and a further 940 suffered minor injuries. This equates to 14 percent of all road deaths and 18 percent of all serious injuries.
The total social cost of crashes involving motorcyclists in 2008 was $586 million. (I very much doubt our collective rego fees put much of a dent in this)
How can we improve the safety of motorcycling?
Improve rider training and licensing
The basic handling skills test, and the restricted and full motorcycle licence practical tests could all be upgraded to ensure motorcyclists are better tested for key skills. Alternatively, we could introduce competency based skills training and assessments.

We could make restrictions to ensure that novice motorcyclists do not ride bikes that are too powerful for them. We could also make learner licences valid for only three years. This would encourage riders to progress though the graduated driver licensing system and gain safe riding skills.

Create a more forgiving road
Potential motorcycle black spots (areas of high crash risk) could be targeted for improvement.

Require all new large motorcycles to have anti-lock brake systems (ABS) by 2015
Some motorcycles have ABS as standard but for others it is an optional extra. We could require all new motorcycles of 600cc and greater (due to their increased level of risk) to be fitted with ABS brakes by 2015.

Promote high visibility and protective clothing
Motorcycle retailers and testing officers could be encouraged to promote the benefits of protective clothing in reducing the impact of crashes. We could also introduce a star rating system for the performance of protective clothing.

Introduce a differential levy system based on engine size
Riding a motorcycle with a large engine is riskier than riding a less powerful bike. ACC is developing a mechanism for calculating its levy rates for motorcycles based on the risk associated with different engine capacities.

Licence mopeds riders and require warrant of fitness (WoF) tests
Currently, holders of a car licence may ride a moped or scooter of 50cc without any specific testing. We could require all new moped riders to pass a basic practical and theory test. We could also require mopeds to pass a warrant of fitness test.


I also read on the site one of the objectives is to reduce the cost on the health sector and ACC, what i would like to know is if the flow on effect would mean lower ACC levies.

Get amongst, it's not often we get a chance to have a say in how things may or may not effect us. time our perspective was voiced

[YellowDog]

Some interesting ideas there.

I am in favour of labelling bends with more than just a speed.

Mandatory ABS would help however IMO - the bigger engined bikes are easier to ride slowly than small engined bikes.

[chef]

some good ideas there. but 2020 is a long wait...

[Headbanger]

what i would like to know is if the flow on effect would mean lower ACC levies.

Hell no, ACC levies are like rates, They only go one way.

That aside, I have no problem with the suggestions, Personally I think the engine size has little to do with anything but the stats probably say otherwise.

[Headbanger]

Loud pipes for everyone.

[YellowDog]

Loud pipes for everyone.

I hear you and now I have found some cheap ones with removable baffles, I am now ordering - as directed.

[grusomhat]

I like how they say how large the costs of deaths/injuries are and it's always HUGE. Why don't they just say fuck it, we'll have a huge deficit this year by spending an amount equal to that on driver training/ awesome roading blah blah and next year the amount needed for deaths/injuries should be proportionately lower. Any deaths after all that money is spent have to be the unlucky few who hit the really low odds of dieing.

[PirateJafa]

ABS? Fuck off.

[rainman]

I hear you and now I have found some cheap ones with removable baffles, I am now ordering - as directed.

Dunno, I've ridden with noisy pipes and quiet ones - no discernible difference as far as I'm concerned. But each to his own!

[PirateJafa]

However I do approve of competency based skills training/assessment, and targeting of biker black spots.

Also I love the idea of cc-based ACC levies. Because I own a 72cc, a 350cc and several 400cc bikes - would save me a boatload over all the old fat buggers who need litre bikes.

[Katman]

Safer roads by 2020??????

We have it within ourselves to make safer roads by 2010.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Also I love the idea of cc-based ACC levies. Because I own a 72cc, a 350cc and several 400cc bikes - would save me a boatload over all the old fat buggers who need litre bikes.

You can kill yourself just as quick on a 400cc as you can on 1000cc, so thats just a crap idea...

if they bring i crap ideas like that then they need to assess the rider as well... Someone that has been riding for 30 years, no accidents, but has a 1 litre bike. Why should they pay more than a 20 year old on tzr 250 with power band and pulling wheelies and is on his third bike because crashed the other 2...

[PirateJafa]

You can kill yourself just as quick on a 400cc as you can on 1000cc, so thats just a crap idea...

Oh yes, I don't disagree at all.

But it is an idea that would, as I said, save me, personally, a lot of money.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

oh yes, i don't disagree at all.

But it is an idea that would, as i said, save me, personally, a lot of money.

... ...

[Winston001]

I like how they say how large the costs of deaths/injuries are and it's always HUGE. Why don't they just say fuck it, we'll have a huge deficit this year by spending an amount equal to that on driver training/ awesome roading blah blah and next year the amount needed for deaths/injuries should be proportionately lower.

Good thought but it will take a lot longer than a year to retrain people.

As for our roads......NZ is a long narrow island nation covered with hills and mountains. Not a lot of rock available for road-building. And only 4 million of us to pay for it. Our roads are very good considering the limitations but improving them is a slow and expensive process.

Plus roading budgets are distracted by the demand for more motorways in Auckland so you can forget about the rest of the country.