SMIDSY - is there such a thing?

[Katman]

Compulsory defensive riding course for all new riders, targeting hazzard awareness and identification.


It's not a silver bullet, but it will help new riders realise just what they are getting in to.

I think it's a great idea and probably the closest to a silver bullet that we're ever likely to find.

[onearmedbandit]

Is it then something we motorcyclists have championed for? Surely no one here can dispute how vunerable we are as road users, and how vastly different riding a bike is to driving a car? If that is the case isn't it in our best interest to ensure our future riders do not become statistics, and ultimately keep the costs of motorcycling (both socially and finiancially) at a lower level.

Rather than pointing the finger of blame (don't get me wrong here, I do realise other road users are sometimes to blame) at others, lets take responsibility for ourselves and improve our own backyard. After that is done, then we can start pointing the finger at others. Not that we'd need too then...

[Pascal]

How are you going to convince your average scooter rider who picked it up on a car license and ride in shorts and jandals or a skirt and damn near close to high heels to go on a defensive driving course?

[Edbear]

Compulsory defensive riding course for all new riders, targeting hazzard awareness and identification.

It's not a silver bullet, but it will help new riders realise just what they are getting in to.

This, I did it for my drivers and learned some valuable information I had not been advised of by anyone else. After that one week I was scanning ahead, scanning driveways etc which I didn't think much of in my first months of driving.

Highly recommend defense course for new drivers/riders.

+1! Should be compulsory! I've never forgotten the lessons I learned in 1976 from the Defensive Driving Course I went through!

A car mirror can hide a Mack truck long enough to cause a crash, bikes are a lot smaller! Even a bike as big as mine with three headlights and two running lights shining forward can and has been missed leading to close calls. I credit a combination of skill, experience, alertness and sheer luck in being able to say I've been riding 40 years without an accident! No one thing will either save or kill you, it is always a combination of factors. All we can do is endeavour to minimise the risks as far as possible as it depends upon us.

[shrub]

Compulsory defensive riding course for all new riders, targeting hazzard awareness and identification.

I'd expand that and have compulsory training for all road users, or certainly compulsory training for everyone who has lost their license for anything or caused a crash.

As for compulsory rider training, yes, yes and a thousand times yes. I'd like to see some of our ACC levies pumped into that.

[Katman]

As for compulsory rider training, yes, yes and a thousand times yes. I'd like to see some of our ACC levies pumped into that.

Just to clarify, we are talking about defensive rider training.

It has already been noted that the powers that be are against the idea of advanced riding training in the belief that it will only lead to greater risk taking on the road.

[shrub]

need[/i] too then...

Yes, let's take responsibility for ourselves - many of us already do, but instead of waiting till all of us are riding faultlessly, let's start pushing for government action to reduce SMIDSY events in the same way they are so keen to reduce speeding.

I know it's all very PC to say we can't demand change from anyone else until we've all got our act together, but let's get real - that will NEVER happen, so why wait? What are the benefits of sitting back and waiting till all noobs are experts and Peter Powerranger rides his shiny new Gixxer along the Akaroa GP sensibly?

[shrub]

Just to clarify, we are talking about defensive rider training.

It has already been noted that the powers that be are against the idea of advanced riding training in the belief that it will only lead to greater risk taking on the road.

Absolutely, going fast round corners is less important for a noob than learning situational awareness or emergency braking.

[wysper]

A car mirror can hide a Mack truck long enough to cause a crash, bikes are a lot smaller! Even a bike as big as mine with three headlights and two running lights shining forward can and has been missed leading to close calls.

I remember someone on here posting that even when they are in their Ambo running lights and sirens - some people still don't see them.

So it is not only about making yourself visible as a motorcyclist, it is about upskilling all road users in situational awareness. I mean for god's sake, people get hit by trains they didn't see.

[onearmedbandit]

How are you going to convince your average scooter rider who picked it up on a car license and ride in shorts and jandals or a skirt and damn near close to high heels to go on a defensive driving course?

A/ Scooter riders should be have motorcycle licenses instead of just car tickets.
B/ I don't care about how to convince them. If they want to ride they attend the classes.

[onearmedbandit]

Peter Powerranger rides his shiny new Gixxer along the Akaroa GP sensibly?

My name is not Peter.

[Pascal]

I know it's all very PC to say we can't demand change from anyone else until we've all got our act together, but let's get real - that will NEVER happen, so why wait? What are the benefits of sitting back and waiting till all noobs are experts and Peter Powerranger rides his shiny new Gixxer along the Akaroa GP sensibly?

I'm pretty sure you can demand change. So, what is the plan to organise it?

[Mully]

How are you going to convince your average scooter rider who picked it up on a car license and ride in shorts and jandals or a skirt and damn near close to high heels to go on a defensive driving course?

My understanding is that, going forward, people who want to ride a moped will have to do their own BHS. Something to do with a new licence class - 6M or summat.

Can't remember where I read that though - so it could be bollocks.

I'd expand that and have compulsory training for all road users, or certainly compulsory training for everyone who has lost their license for anything or caused a crash.

As for compulsory rider training, yes, yes and a thousand times yes. I'd like to see some of our ACC levies pumped into that.

I'd love to see anyone convicted of a loss-of-licence offence (including demerits) have to do a Defensive Riding Course prior to being allowed to get their plastic back or a work licence.

We pay a Motorcycle "Safety" Levy with our re-licencing costs now - see if MAG or BRONZ will take the idea of compulsory rider training (and refreshers) to ACC to spend some of that money. I suspect if motorcyclists don'r drive this, then the M"S"L will be spent on flouro vests and patronising handouts.

[shrub]

I remember someone on here posting that even when they are in their Ambo running lights and sirens - some people still don't see them.

So it is not only about making yourself visible as a motorcyclist, it is about upskilling all road users in situational awareness. I mean for god's sake, people get hit by trains they didn't see.

Well said.

[riffer]

Just to clarify, we are talking about defensive rider training.

It has already been noted that the powers that be are against the idea of advanced riding training in the belief that it will only lead to greater risk taking on the road.

Le's clarify that... TPTB are against Track Day style advanced training, as in their opinion it teaches faster riding.

They are definitely not AGAINST defensive training.