Motorcycle Registrations.

[James Deuce]

Are up hugely.

They'll be more and more motorcycle related deaths due to statistics, n00bness, stupidity, and sheer mischance.

RIP threads are going to get stultifying in their repetitiveness.

Just like it used to be 25-30 years ago, though we didn't have the freedom to discuss the causes and implications amongst fellow motorcyclists widely, such as we do now.

Get used to it or look hard at yourself and do what's necessary to avoid my prophecy, a prophecy already tabled by ACC, DHBs, the Ministry of Health, The Business Roundtable, Concerned Mother's Groups, Grey Power, and of course, Road Safety Experts, Experts both self-appointed and anointed alike.

Work the system or be crushed by it.

Ask yourself what you can do to ensure motorcycling's future.

[Gubb]

Ask yourself what you can do to ensure motorcycling's future.

Take 2 wheels off your right hand neighbour's car and force them to register it as a motorcycle.

Until the great unwashed understand out plight, we are doomed.

[McJim]

Run off patches (kitty litter) on every corner and a total ban on 4 wheeeled vehicles.

[Toaster]

We individually can ensure motorcyclings future by positively promoting the fun of riding among our peers and doing our best to ride defensively.

(with the odd torque-filled burst at the appropriate time and place of course!)

[MTW]

Are up hugely.

They'll be more and more motorcycle related deaths due to statistics, n00bness, stupidity, and sheer mischance.

It's true that in the event of an accident the motorcyclist is going to suffer more than the car/truck driver. So the rising cost of registration is ever present but I've often thought the whole registration system should be more like an insurance system.

If your accident free (that is, not the causer of an accident resulting in injury) then shouldn't your registration for car/bike/whatever be less than that of someone who has caused multiple accidents resulting in injury?

I'm not trying to pick on those that have had a lot of accidents but I guess it's like an insurance premium, the risk is assesed and if your accident free and a low risk threat then shouldn't you get some form of discount from your rego's?

[James Deuce]

That's just trying to shift blame to a compulsory insurance programme.

I'm talking about personal responsibility, awareness of your individual effect on society as a whole, and modifying your behaviour to avoid a climbing death toll.

No cops outs.

[Gubb]

I would love to say that education is the key, but realistically, you can't change someone's mind if it's already made up. At least not in one generation anyway.

Then again, Drink Driving culture has changed, maybe there is hope to promote sensible driver education programmes, skid pan training, proper driver education and qualification.

But where is the money going to come from? we can't siphon it from the health, education, sectors. Sure as fuck there will be protest marches if the Government puts up taxes for road education programmes.

[Big Dave]

Wheelstands raise awareness!

[MTW]

That's just trying to shift blame to a compulsory insurance programme.

I'm talking about personal responsibility, awareness of your individual effect on society as a whole, and modifying your behaviour to avoid a climbing death toll.

No cops outs.

Sorry I was more on the angle of the rising registration thing...

Pulled the following from the net.

In 2006, 38 motorcyclists1 were killed and a further 1017 were injured in road crashes. This was 10 percent of all deaths and 7 percent of all reported injuries on our roads.

Actually it's an interesting link and worth a read.

http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/...et-July-07.pdf

Very interesting graphs of motorcyclists killed and injured from 1980 to 2006 and by age group too, there could be some lessons to be learnt about why the figures have fallen since 1980. Perhaps the introduction of the learner/restricted licence system and 250cc restrictions?

[James Deuce]

Wheelstands raise awareness!

This is true, but these days it needs to be special like a High Chair, or a 12OC.

Make sure it stands out mmmkay?

[James Deuce]

Sorry I was more on the angle of the rising registration thing...

Pulled the following from the net.

In 2006, 38 motorcyclists1 were killed and a further 1017 were injured in road crashes. This was 10 percent of all deaths and 7 percent of all reported injuries on our roads.

Actually it's an interesting link and worth a read.

http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/...et-July-07.pdf

Very interesting graphs of motorcyclists killed and injured from 1980 to 2006 and by age group too, there could be some lessons to be learnt about why the figures have fallen since 1980. Perhaps the introduction of the learner/restricted licence system and 250cc restrictions?

Never apologise!

The figures dropped because the number of non-scooter bikes on the road has dropped hugely compared to 30 years ago. The death and accident rate is still hugely too high for 2% of the vehicles on the road though.

I don't think the graduated license system is particularly sensible anymore and power to weight system rather than a capacity limit is a much better idea.

[MTW]

I say that and find the below on the very last page. Hmmm...still it surely has to have made a difference for the good.

Despite the rule that learner and restricted licence holders are not permitted to ride bikes of greater than 250cc engine capacity, 10 percent of riders on learner licences, and 20 percent of riders on restricted licences, were riding bikes of over 250ccs at the time of their crashes.

[MTW]

I don't think the graduated license system is particularly sensible anymore and power to weight system rather than a capacity limit is a much better idea.

That's a good point, 250cc road bikes are out there that would give my 1100 a run for it's money. There certainly needs to be a change soon to get those %'s down.

[MisterD]

Take seat belts and airbags out of cages that'll make the percentage of biker deaths drop...might even make a few cagers more interested in being aware of their environment too

[Okey Dokey]

I'm agreed with Toaster. Try to be a "good ambassador" for motorcycling in general. Ride with consideration for other road users, smile and chat to people who come up to look at you or your bike.

Doing that sort of thing must help our collective image. Too many people still think of bikies as outlaws or something, when we know ourselves that we are all just the same sort of people that you find in any sample of the general population. (sorry long sentence, still getting the hang of posting)