Oh those naughty motorcyclists

[Jdogg]

Motorcyclists Police alert out today – Wow look at those damming stats that have lead to this targeted campaign – Not to mention the well proven * Tui Ad* cause of the accidents which also encourage extra attention from the police.....



A new news release is available for you to view on the Police website:

Title: Return of campaign to encourage safe riding

Motorcycle safety will be at the heart of a month long campaign which starts in Central District on Monday (14 November).

The campaign was run for the first time last year and was met with a very positive response from riders, who in the main were demonstrating responsibility on the roads.

The officer in charge of Highway Patrol for Central District, Senior Sergeant Kris Burbery said: "We were really encouraged by the response we received last year and feel it is a worthy initiative to repeat. It is important to stress that this is not about targeting motorcyclists to issue infringement notices. Although we will deal with offences that we identify, the focus is to engage with riders to raise awareness and remind them of their vulnerability.

"It is also about encouraging both car drivers and motorcycle riders to respect each other; they each have responsibilities that they need to uphold."

In 2010 seven motorcyclists were killed on Central District roads with speed identified as a contributing factor in three of those crashes. So far this year five motorcyclists have died. Those cases are still under investigation but speed and alcohol are suspected as being a contributor in some of the crashes

During last year's campaign 747 motorcyclists were spoken to. 49 offences of speed were detected, 35 riders were in breach of their licences, 9 had vehicle faults and there was one drink-driver identified.

The 2011 Month of Motorcycles will run from 14 November to 11 December.
Police will be proactively speaking to motorcycle and moped riders. They will be focusing on vehicle conditions, safety equipment, clothing, licences, rider behaviour and legal compliance. Checkpoints will also be a part of the campaign with the support of partners agencies such as ACC.

Some key safety tips are as follows:

• Make sure you have appropriate licence for the size of motorcycle.
• Ensure the vehicle is safe, registered and warranted.
• Make sure you wear the appropriate safety clothing and footwear. No bare
skin and jandals!
• Make sure you wear an approved safety helmet.
• If you are riding a motorcycle that was manufactured on or after 1
January, 1980, the headlight must be switched on at all times when on the road.
• Ensure you comply with any conditions of a graduated (learner or
restricted) drivers' licence.

Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027
234 8256.

[steve_t]

Haha. Rego checks disguised as a safety campaign

[Tigadee]

• If you are riding a motorcycle that was manufactured on or after 1
January, 1980, the headlight must be switched on at all times when on the road.

I don't understand this one - shouldn't the headlight of any motorcycle be switched on, regardless of year of manufacture?

[sarcasm mode on] And gosh, ONE drink rider identified! That's -200,000 more than other motor vehicles!

[Devil]

I don't understand this one - shouldn't the headlight of any motorcycle be switched on, regardless of year of manufacture?

It is now law.

[bogan]

• If you are riding a motorcycle that was manufactured on or after 1
January, 1980, the headlight must be switched on at all times when on the road.

Never seen that law, the 'headlight' law actually refers to running lights, so a park light, or dim both on front indicators count too! More light from a headlight obviously, but some have reasons not to want to use that.

[Pampera]

I don't understand this one - shouldn't the headlight of any motorcycle be switched on, regardless of year of manufacture?

[sarcasm mode on] And gosh, ONE drink rider identified! That's -200,000 more than other motor vehicles!

The law that makes it an offence to forget to switch your light during the day on or have a bulb blow during the day only applies to motorcycles manufactured after the stated date. If you are on a 1979 or older motorcycle you cannot be ticketed for lights off during the day. Presumably neither can a motorist who pulls out on a motorcyclist riding an older bike claim (to a court) that the accident was the motorcyclists fault because their headlight was not on!

I have now twice been inconvenienced by the harrassment campaign referred to in the press release. I can assure you at the second stop, (same place and time on my commute) that the crew at the checkpoint did not meet with the Police spokespersons claimed "very positive response" from me. You don't see every passing motorist or cyclist stopped during peak hour traffic for this sort of harrassment.

Exactly how does repeatedly pulling a 50 year old licenced rider, dressed properly for riding, with 33 years riding experience on a registered, warranted Vespa out of a busy peak hour traffic flow "encouraging both car drivers and motorcycle riders to respect each other"?

You said it - "Yeah right".

Michael

[The Pastor]

yeah im a little bit worried about this, wonder if i should get a wof and take the rego off hold :S

[Duke girl]

I don't understand this one - shouldn't the headlight of any motorcycle be switched on, regardless of year of manufacture?

[sarcasm mode on] And gosh, ONE drink rider identified! That's -200,000 more than other motor vehicles!

All Motorcyclists regardless of age of bike should ride with their headlight on as its better to be seen out there even if some car drivers for some reason dont see you cos they dont look before pulling out in froint of you.
If all road users concentrated more on their surroundings and abide by the road rules our roads would be much safer and enjoyable to use.
Awareness as we all know is our survival when using our roads.
Stay safe and ride for tomorrow.

[short shins]

From AMCN 25 Oct - 8 Nov Issue
" The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce has called for the Motorcycle Safety levy to be scrapped.
The VACC addressed the Road Safety Committee (RSC) Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle safety in Victoria, claiming the levy is an unfair impost on riders. The $63.80 charge is allocated for motorcycle safety projects on top of annual vehicle registration."

Who do we ask about doing the same here?

I'm not sure but I think Victoria also repealed their lights on law.

Rode my bike to work today with no lights on and no safety checks.

[pritch]

All Motorcyclists regardless of age of bike should ride with their headlight on .

Some of the bikes made in the UK when Joseph Lucas ruled as "the Prince of Darkness" might not respond too well to that treatment.
Then there's the small matter of Italian electrics...

There is a reason for having a qualifying date in the law.

[Pampera]

All Motorcyclists regardless of age of bike should ride with their headlight on as its better to be seen out there even if some car drivers for some reason dont see you cos they dont look before pulling out in froint of you.

Unfortunately this is not really the point. Having the choice and then choosing to have lights on is good, the point is even if you believe that lights on during daytime is a good thing to do (and I do) if;

you forget one day
a bulb blows
you have an electrical system fault

and your light is out, you will be ticketed and fined, along with the other ~ 100 motorcyclists ticketed for this so far this year. Today, if your light stops working during daytime you are supposed to park the bike at the side of the road and walk home.

Because light use is compulsory, a motorist who pulls out on a motorcyclist can now claim to the court that the motorcycle lights were not lit and the motorcyclist has to share the blame, with the hope and likelihood that the severity of any sanction against them will be reduced by the judge during sentencing. Prove your lights were on and working immediately before the impact!

My view is it is the compulsion that is the problem, not the having lights on. No other road users have this requirement imposed on them. Another new way for Police to meet ticket and revenue quotas and harrass motorcyclists (as per their press release). I sometimes wonder now why I still ride... that's right, it used to be enjoyable!


Michael

[blackdog]

From AMCN 25 Oct - 8 Nov Issue
" The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce has called for the Motorcycle Safety levy to be scrapped.
The VACC addressed the Road Safety Committee (RSC) Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle safety in Victoria, claiming the levy is an unfair impost on riders. The $63.80 charge is allocated for motorcycle safety projects on top of annual vehicle registration."

Who do we ask about doing the same here?

I'm not sure but I think Victoria also repealed their lights on law.

Rode my bike to work today with no lights on and no safety checks.

Cheers. Reposted in the McSAC thread.

[Maha]

During last year's campaign 747 motorcyclists were spoken to. 49 offences of speed were detected, 35 riders were in breach of their licences, 9 had vehicle faults and there was one drink-driver identified.

These stats dont even comes close to a regular nights policing of cars in Reefton...

[Bald Eagle]

reefton has car ????????????

[Maha]

reefton has car ????????????

136...most are stopped at least twice.