Mom on Breakfast TV1

[NinjaNanna]

Well done Anne, you couldn't get me to appear on TV for love or money - but whilst I sympathise with MAG-NZ and the reasons why it was setup, I'm still going to have my say on this matter.

Based solely on that TV appearance MAGs primary greivance is that MSL is discriminatry, but you know what, Joe Public only remembers that car drivers subsidise bikes by $70 a year already, do you think they care that we are paying $28 a year toward a ring fenced fund for our exclusive benefit? And do you think they care whether the original $70 claims were true and accurate?

The other arguement was that the funding was already available despite the MSL being introduced. If the funding channels are already there through ACC rather than the specific MSL - MAG_NZ would be better advised to push to see that ACC matches the MSL $ for $ instead of unrealistic calls for abolishing it. If they were successful at doing this surely $4m-$5.5m could go a long way towards reducing our accident rates.

And as for the arguement about the extra financial burden, $28 doesn't even cover 1 tank of gas these days.

[DEATH_INC.]

If they were successful at doing this surely $4m-$5.5m could go a long way towards reducing our accident rates.

I have to ask how? More education? for who? we all know the risks / consequences. Better roads? Not even close to covering that. More cops? Don't really wanna go there....
How is money going to fix it?

[Maha]

I have to ask how? More education? for who? we all know the risks / consequences. Better roads? Not even close to covering that. More cops? Don't really wanna go there....
How is money going to fix it?

Getting faces on TV in the guise of advertising Andy.

[oldrider]

Thanks for posting the link - I didn't see it on t.v.

Anne certainly comes across well and made her point succinctly. Gareth doesn't do himself any favours with his mumbling bumbling appearance, but I hope that everyone will work together as much as possible for the gains to be made. Surely between the groups dedicated to reducing the motorcycle stats by various means (and educating riders to up their road responsibilities) we can look forward to more of us staying alive and uninjured on the roads.

Me too!

A bit annoying that a guy who was pressed into motorcycling because his wife is a devoted rider gets to represent us just because he has a lot of dosh!

Well done Anne, you made your points very very well indeed! (be still my beating heart )

[Nasty]

'we are no responsible for putting the levy in place" (GM)

No it was proposed at the meeting at government the day of the Bikoi - with little grumbles. the Fact that BRONZ etc went on to negotiate with this levy in mind therefore allowing an agreed increase to happen seems a little on the nose!

[NinjaNanna]

I have to ask how? More education? for who? we all know the risks / consequences. Better roads? Not even close to covering that. More cops? Don't really wanna go there....
How is money going to fix it?

The single biggest problem that we need to fix is the "It'll never happen to me" mentality.

Everything else stems from that. If people rode as if it could happen to them then the accident rate will come down, it will never be 0 but it will come down. If people rode with it in their mind that yes there could be a pot hole/gravel/large rock/4WD/tractor just around that corner then they will slow down so that they have a bigger safety margin.

If they beleive that it is possible that they will crash either due to their own mistake or that of another road user, then they will gear up to protect their hides.

If they believe that that car truely didn't see them, then they might take more care to stay out of blind spots.

The problem we face is in the attitude of motorcyclists, advertising is effective at altering peoples attitudes, there's literally dozens of TV commercials on the net that are effective in re-enforcing the risks that we face and that they are very real dangers. Also I personally find road side billboards very effective, case in point are the ones that popped up around NZ saying plan your corners.

I openly admit that advertising is not a silver bullet, but there are a number of key problem areas where it would help

1. All the gear all the time
2. Sorry mate I didn't see you (look twice for bikes)
3. Plan your corners don't hug or cut the centre line
4. Changing road surfaces (diesel, gravel and pot holes)
5. Returning Riders (bikes are much more powerful)

The money could also pay for motorcycle specific, regularly updated Accident and Fatality signs in rider black spots or "Days since last accident" signs. Surely it would be impossible to ignore a sign that told you just how many riders had died and been injured on that particular stretch of road for it not to affect your mental attitude while riding it.

The challenge is to change attitudes, advertising and the funds to deliver it is a great start to that.

[davebullet]

Somebody tried to choke her, thats a bit rough!

Fanny.

Yeah - saw that too. About 3 mins in a pair of hands wandered into shot. Realising there would be photo evidence of the attempted assault - they backed away.

[davebullet]

I'd spend $1m of it subsidising motorcycle training days - targetting the at risk groups.

How about making attending a crash scene mandatory to get your full license?

[HappyGOriding]

So besides from a $28 increase and a few extra signs and the odd ad campaign porbably not much will change

I'd spend $1m of it subsidising motorcycle training days - targetting the at risk groups.

And who are the percevied "at risk group" I thought that it was all of us silly enough to ride one of those dang two wheeled contraptions

[DEATH_INC.]

The single biggest problem that we need to fix is the "It'll never happen to me" mentality.

But, that goes hand in hand with the 'It's his/her/their fault'.
You're talking about changing people's attitudes towards life in general.
Good luck.

[NinjaNanna]

But, that goes hand in hand with the 'It's his/her/their fault'.
You're talking about changing people's attitudes towards life in general.
Good luck.

"It'll never happen to me" doesn't give a shit about who's fault it is/was.

But your point is a good one, the ads (particularly ATGATT ones) should go both ways, ones where it is and isn't the riders fault.

The result is still the same years of skin grafts for the rider.

[Mom]

Well that was fun. I must admit to being a tad nervous and not having any real idea what the questions were going to be did not help, but I think I did ok. It was supposed to be a 10 minute interview which would have given me a bit more time to elaborate on my answers but that is how the cookie crumbled on the day.

Took two very excited 14 year olds with me, I think they were more nervous than me. They had the best time in the green room, what a cool buzz for them to experience.

[Toaster]

For a start she's better than Gareth Morgan ( but thats not hard).
I can't stand the guy.
Just because he has some money and rides a bike we should all listen to him, What a twat.

Well said. Couldn't agree more!

[Toaster]

Well that was fun.

When is the movie coming out??!!

[FJRider]

Well done Mom ...

And as ... "It'll never happen to me" and "It wasn't my fault" are more than often the same people ... with the belief that without blame, means without injury.

Education of/for all motorcyclists ... not just the learners.

ACC subsidised safety gear for learners might help too ...