So motorcycle deaths are overrepresented

**yungatart** · 21st September 2009, 15:43

I suspect that motorcycle deaths will continue to be overrepresented in tha stats until motorcyclists stop looking for someone else to blame for their accidents.
Even if you are hit by a careless cager who didn't see you, in a very large percentage of cases, there is probably something you could have done to avoid the accident.
It is okay to be in 'the right', just don't choose to be dead/injured as a result.
Sometimes it is more prudent to let them get away with blatant law breaking, lack of common sense, lack of consideration etc etc...at least you can get to go home and have a rant about it.

**ukusa** · 21st September 2009, 15:44

Originally Posted by Waxxa

a couple of comments...

the Labour Govt. made a target of 300 road deaths per year and it seems the National Govt. is going with this target as well.

Problem: population is growing=more vehciles on the road (average 2 or more vehicles per household)=more accidents, more fatalites. The Govt needs to revise this figure to a percentage of carnage equating to the increased vehciles on the road (so instead of sticking to the 300 target, you have say 5% as a target) and be realistic about future growth on our roads.

increases in vehicles on our roads are huge. These are not a result solely from population increases (immigration/baby booms), but also from several other current circumstances. ie. fuel costs & housing booms.

New motorcycle registration numbers (mopeds/scooters included) for the last 5 years have almost tripled that of the 5 years prior to that. The under 61ccmoped/scooter under class for example has grown 1000% in that period (611 in 1998, 6622 in 2008). This massive increase can probably be put down to one thing, petrol prices.

For larger bikes, I would hazard a guess at saying the boom is in relation to mortgage equity, from the property boom of the early to mid 2000's.

With huge increase like these, 50 motorcycle deaths (which in all truth is 50 too many) is probably not overly high for the number of bikes on the road these days. Let's face it, accidents occur, the road toll will never be zero.

**mynameis** · 21st September 2009, 15:49

Originally Posted by MSTRS

So? I had a full car licence at just on 16. Needed a car for girlfriend-purposes, after I got sprung pillioning daddy's precious (if he only knew

)
But I couldn't go to the pub until I was 20. Go figure.

Still an old geezer though

Wait till the Mrs reads this

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st September 2009, 15:53

Originally Posted by Katman

If the rest of us didn't have to suffer the backlash of that happening, I might be prepared to agree with you.

What backlash?

**BMWST?** · 21st September 2009, 15:54

a statistic i heard yesterdasy was we are 3 per cent of the road population yet 15(or was it 17) percent of ACC budget

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st September 2009, 16:00

Originally Posted by yungatart

I suspect that motorcycle deaths will continue to be overrepresented in tha stats until motorcyclists stop looking for someone else to blame for their accidents.

Sorry, that won't stop it.

Humans are human - THEY MAKE MISTAKES! that's what we do, and by christ we are good at it.
Plus they seek thrill and excitement - add that to mistakes and this is going to continue for a long while to come.

**monkeymcbean** · 21st September 2009, 16:10

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Sorry, that won't stop it.

Humans are human - THEY MAKE MISTAKES! that's what we do, and by christ we are good at it.
Plus they seek thrill and excitement - add that to mistakes and this is going to continue for a long while to come.

I think it will go along way to make a difference, by taking responsibility for one self, and stop always blaming others, I hardly ever hear someone say 'it was my fault' always the cagers...blah blah blah, now that is another human trait...always has to point the finger at someone else.

**ukusa** · 21st September 2009, 16:25

Originally Posted by monkeymcbean

and stop always blaming others, I hardly ever hear someone say 'it was my fault' always the cagers...blah blah blah, now that is another human trait...always has to point the finger at someone else.

I blame the lamp posts

**MSTRS:Me** · 21st September 2009, 16:25

Originally Posted by mynameis

Wait till the Mrs reads this

Or girlfriend's father...
My point is that the driving age has been 15 since Adam was a cowboy. What, really, has changed to make that age unsuitable now? A change that requires lifting that age, when so many other (age-restricted) things have had a reduction in age.

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st September 2009, 16:34

Originally Posted by monkeymcbean

I think it will go along way to make a difference, by taking responsibility for one self, and stop always blaming others, I hardly ever hear someone say 'it was my fault' always the cagers...blah blah blah, now that is another human trait...always has to point the finger at someone else.

Interesting concept, so how many MV accidents are NOT the result of human error, but the result of failure to accept responsibilty for a previous accident?

**The Stranger:Me** · 21st September 2009, 16:36

Originally Posted by ukusa

I blame the lamp posts

May as well, your logic is about as sound as mcbeans.

**MarkH** · 21st September 2009, 16:46

Originally Posted by BMWST?

a statistic i heard yesterdasy was we are 3 per cent of the road population yet 15(or was it 17) percent of ACC budget

3% of total registered vehicles on the road, or 3% of kms travelled are by bike or something else?

**ManDownUnder** · 21st September 2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by The Stranger

What backlash?

wwwwhhhhiiii*PPPPIIISSSSSSHHHHHHHH* <<== that one

Originally Posted by yungatart

Sometimes it is more prudent to let them get away with blatant law breaking, lack of common sense, lack of consideration etc etc...at least you can get to go home and have a rant about it.

And therein lies a key to it. If I had to put money on "Laws of the land vs. Laws of Physics"... Physics gets my vote every time!

I forget who said we should check egos at the door when you hit the road, but it's very true. (sorry - that should be "... check ego's at the door..." just for Hitcher and Skyrider)

**MSTRS:Me** · 21st September 2009, 16:49

At the risk of getting a greenie from Katman, I'm gonna say that the blame game is perfect for focussing on any/everything, except our own behaviour. If it's always the fault of someone/thing else, then we have no need to change the way we ride.
Now, that said, there are very few of us that having had a fright are not more aware of the circumstances that lead to that fright, and adjust to avoid a repeat. It's not like we are stupid. However, sadly some never get the chance to learn from such a situation. Or become complacent and 'fail' the refresher course (of such a fright).
TeStranger is right insofaras we are human, will make mistakes, and some of us will die because we missed our, or someone else's, mistake. Which is a mistake in itself, and which I understand others as saying.