So motorcycle deaths are overrepresented

[JMemonic]

Back to horse drawn buggies perhaps?

I don't actually think that 'dayglow' colours are common enough yet to make people 'invisible' and I don't think it will be that way until it becomes fashionable to make houses and fences those colours... It is a matter of contrast, not colour.

Nah I cant figure out those horse things, and I would never propose that as an option.

I work in an environment where dayglow is common, plant is painted dayglow, people are in dayglow, about the only thing not is the van I drive. I look for people, and potential dangers.

[Genestho]

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. ...

Ok I stopped reading the thread here. Apologies if a repost.

The reason for this, is that MOT are adopting the SAME road safety strategy model to 2020, as was adopted to 2010. (Adapted in 10 year increments)

The Safer Journeys public consultation document is the reason you are seeing media adressing roadsafety issues, and will do until at least October, when submissions end, because it's all up for PUBLIC consultation and debate.
There is no ONE group being targeted! It looks at all road user crash issues.

Many of the issues discussed in this thread are being addressed if not by MOT, then by groups or individuals interested. AA has put out a good report as well.


MOT and groups with Roadsafety interests are using media to educate and push the issues at this time of fierce debate - there is method to the madness.

[Blackbird]

In response to my email on page 3, I received the response below this morning.

Dear Mr James

On behalf of Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Transport, thank you for your email of 21 September 2009 regarding road safety.

Your email has been placed before the Minister for his consideration and you may expect a reply in due course.

Regards,

Belinda McArtney

Ministerial Assistant

Pretty standard stuff but at least I got the courtesy of a reply, which is a first!

[jono035]

Nah I cant figure out those horse things, and I would never propose that as an option.

I work in an environment where dayglow is common, plant is painted dayglow, people are in dayglow, about the only thing not is the van I drive. I look for people, and potential dangers.

Yeah, that's pretty silly. Drove into the city at dusk yesterday and found the cyclists in hi-vis were much more noticeable. When they were far away on on the other side of a 4 lane road + median wearing hi-vis they were easier to spot than when I was closing in on them on my verge.

Of course, if I hadn't been actively looking for hazards then I wouldn't have seen them either way so I guess the hi-vis makes you safer from safe drivers?

[Marmoot]

Gee we are coping some bad press at the moment, anyone noticing a pattern here. I wonder what it is all leading to?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10598593

Yep, pattern.

2 years ago it was the Asian students.
Last year it was the SUVs.
This year it's the boyracers.
So we're booked for next year's menu.
And I'm guessing that elderly drivers are the menu for 2011.

All hail the mentality that only thrives on "having a common enemy" (read: "common feeds").

P.S.
Funny that drunk drivers have never been promoted from being a target-of-opportunity to a primary target. Maybe the lawmakers are often drunk and if they had done so they would've copped the bad side themselves.

[James Deuce]

Of course, if I hadn't been actively looking for hazards then I wouldn't have seen them either way so I guess the hi-vis makes you safer from safe drivers?

Tah dah.

Of which there are 4 in NZ.

You guys can argue amongst yourself who they are. I have to learn how to wheelie properly.

[jono035]

Tah dah.

Of which there are 4 in NZ.

You guys can argue amongst yourself who they are. I have to learn how to wheelie properly.

I didn't mean to imply that I was looking harder than usual, I was being exactly as careful as usual. I noticed a few cyclists in hi-vis then remembered this discussion.

[James Deuce]

No, I know exactly what you mean. I see motorcycles in traffic because I am passionate about them so they stand out. If I go looking for reflective vests I see them. Bear in mind that a couple of UK studies have pointed out that people expect reflective vests to be on pedestrians, like road workers and Police, so they are unprepared for a sudden burst of accelration from the "pedestrian" riding the 1000cc motorcycle accelerating from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

I have family members who never, ever notice bikes. I have intervened at intersections with a handbrake and moved the gear lever into neutral because I am not going to be involved in a SMIDSY in any way.

I still want to learn how to wheelie properly.

[MSTRS:Me]

I didn't mean to imply that I was looking harder than usual, I was being exactly as careful as usual. I noticed a few cyclists in hi-vis then remembered this discussion.

But that is precisely the point re Hi-Vis. The wearers are seen by those who are looking, and would see them regardless. The rest - well, it makes little-to-no difference - cos they're not looking properly anyway.

[Genestho]

Yep, pattern.

2 years ago it was the Asian students.
Last year it was the SUVs.
This year it's the boyracers.
So we're booked for next year's menu.
And I'm guessing that elderly drivers are the menu for 2011.

All hail the mentality that only thrives on "having a common enemy" (read: "common feeds").

P.S.
Funny that drunk drivers have never been promoted from being a target-of-opportunity to a primary target. Maybe the lawmakers are often drunk and if they had done so they would've copped the bad side themselves.

Well there are some high profile poli's that have been caught out - repeatedly apparently.
There was also a former Govt's Minister, whose daughter was caught with class A, according to old media reports.

Also a colleage had a meeting with another former Govt Minister, and he had no interest whatso ever in changing how things were done in 2007 regarding drink driving, he made that very clear most disrespectfully, arrogantly and frustratedly in front of witnesses.
Our new Govt and Ministers seem to be more in touch with their constituants.

The noise from the public regarding this issue gets louder, with each failure to protect and deter, the new Govt is listening.

Also, over the last year, there are groups now aligning saying the same things from different angles.

[Marmoot]

Well there are some high profile poli's that have been caught out - repeatedly apparently.
There was also a former Govt's Minister, whose daughter was caught with class A, according to old media reports.

Also a colleage had a meeting with another former Govt Minister, and he had no interest whatso ever in changing how things were done in 2007 regarding drink driving, he made that very clear most disrespectfully, arrogantly and frustratedly in front of witnesses.
Our new Govt and Ministers seem to be more in touch with their constituants.

The noise from the public regarding this issue gets louder, with each failure to protect and deter, the new Govt is listening.

Also, over the last year, there are groups now aligning saying the same things from different angles.

With all due respect, I agree with you. But there are some flaws in your post:
- Generally less than 10 high profile accidents were needed for each of the targets in my post to trigger regulation drafts. Yet after more than years of suffering from drunks we still haven't got any strong measures implemented. Your post highlighted this by saying "over the last year, there are groups now aligning...". Yet still no action.
- The government may be listening, but the people behind traffic safety are still the same old Labour-appointed people. Howard Broad to name a few. Andy Knackstedt is still there. etc etc. Yes there is a new pilot on our Hercules but it still won't dogfight an F15.

Basically, we're still stuck in the rut. What this government needs is a purge.

[jono035]

But that is precisely the point re Hi-Vis. The wearers are seen by those who are looking, and would see them regardless. The rest - well, it makes little-to-no difference - cos they're not looking properly anyway.

I noticed them much earlier in the peace, where they were much further away, so for whatever that is worth then hi-vis works... By contrast there was a pedestrian in black pants, a dark jersey and black hair standing in the median in the drizzling rain on my way home at 8:30pm and I didn't notice him in the slightest until he was past my front bumper... If I had moved into the median to turn right I would have been hard pressed not to have skittled him...

I've had a serious collision with a pedestrian before and it is something that scares the shit out of me whenever I see people acting like that...

[James Deuce]

I've had a serious collision with a pedestrian before and it is something that scares the shit out of me whenever I see people acting like that...

In most civilised countries, jaywalking will get you arrested and a gun shoved in your face if you argue.

[jono035]

In most civilised countries, jaywalking will get you arrested and a gun shoved in your face if you argue.

Yeah, I don't think people get just how quickly things can go wrong when you're doing something completely silly like standing on the lane markings as cars go past or walking through a line of stationary traffic beside a lane of free flowing traffic...

[scumdog]

Even for the accidents that aren't technically 'our fault' then I think this still applies. We can wring our hands and complain that car drivers are all out to kill us (fair observation in my limited experience) but ultimately that is a hazard that we have to mitigate ourselves because it is unlikely to change.

Yep, shit-loads of crashes involving one bike running off the road, mostly for no logical reason.

Lack of paying attention while riding is a biggie in these cases from my observations.