Riding in Summer (Photo: pxhere)
Summer is just around the corner and more and more motorcycles are taking to the roads. According to Waka Kotahi, as of October 2022, there was 861 first registration of motorcycles. Riding a motorcycle can be one of the most exhilarating experiences, especially in scenic countries like Aotearoa.
Pros and cons of owning a motorcycle
Motorcycles can be cheaper to buy and easier to maintain compared to cars. Their spare parts are much more compact and cheaper than motor cars. Every driver despises traffic. When you ride a motorbike, you won’t have to deal with as much traffic as someone in a private automobile as riders can navigate between cars to reach the top of the traffic.
However, there are also cons to riding a bike. According to the Ministry of Transport, there has been an increase in motorcycle deaths and injuries reported to New Zealand police since the early 2000s. Motorcycle fatalities remain consistent year after year, with a distinct seasonal pattern centred on summer use.
Motorcycle Crash Patterns
In 2020, 55 motorcyclists died, the greatest amount since 1997, when 57 perished. According to ACC, there were 4360 claims that were accepted in 2019 for motorcycle-related injuries. According to Waka Kotahi, the lack of protection as a biker puts them at greater risk on the road. Statistics also demonstrate that there are a number of factors that are especially dangerous for motorcyclists: round a bend, intersections with turning, side-on merging, and in-front traffic with barriers, such as parked cars, swinging wide on curves (this can lead to a head-on crash), pulling out too soon to pass, or cutting in after passing.
NZ Police advice
The ACC newsroom quotes Peter Sowter, an NZ Police Crash investigator’s advice that motorcyclists adjust their driving according to road and weather conditions. “Slow down if it’s wet. If there is gravel, don’t speed through it. We don’t always know what the automobile ahead will do as riders, so why race towards it?” Peter urges riders to attend the Ride Forever course. He has personally attended three courses thus far. Ride Forever is an ACC programme that aims to provide riders with accurate information and training so they may make better decisions.
Ride Forever ACC Course
In case of a crash
The ACC website recommends that the public call 111 and request an ambulance and fire services if required. It urges people in an accident scene to make a safe zone around the downed cyclist and not relocate the rider. And most importantly to keep an eye on their response until the paramedics come.
Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink correspondent based in Auckland.
