As the riding season for motorcyclists in New Zealand starts, the Hurunui District Council has collaborated with the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to ensure the safety of motorists and motorcyclists.
Janice Millman, deputy chair at MSAC, advised motorists to look twice before changing lanes, look twice at intersections, and check blind spots to “prevent a large number of motorcyclist injuries on the road this month.”
“It might seem simple, but to a rider these small actions can make all the difference,” Millman explained.
MSAC and ACC are also reminding riders to ensure that their bike and gear are in good condition before hitting the road.
Most importantly, they advised riders to refresh their riding skills annually with a Ride Forever course – a training programme by ACC that provides coaching to riders of all skill levels.
“The increase in riders over summer sees the number of motorcycling injuries increasing. We want riders to take a moment before getting back on the bike to refresh their skills with Ride Forever coaching,” said Dave Keilty, injury prevention lead for road at ACC.
He added that riders who complete a Ride Forever course are 27% less likely to crash and submit an ACC claim.
“In 2018, 52 riders, including 4 pillions were fatally injured on their motorbikes. ACC provided treatment, help and support for 7,673 riders after they’d been injured on a bike. Of those claims 4,013 were new claims made in 2018. The total cost of motorcycle-related claims in 2018 was $129 million. Added to this are the human costs to the rider, their families and their friends and other road users. We’d like to see those crash numbers decrease,” Keilty concluded.
