The scene of a motorcycle crash on SH2, near Te Hauke, in October 2020. Photo / Warren Buckland
The scene of a motorcycle crash on SH2, near Te Hauke, in October 2020. Photo / Warren Buckland
Close to three motorcycle crashes occur on Hawke's Bay roads on average per week – resulting in more than $17.8m in ACC compensation in five years.
Between 2015 and 2019, there were 736 motorcycle crashes in Hawke's Bay. These crashes cost ACC more than $17.8m to help people recover.
In2019 alone, there were 168 motorcycle injury claims in Hawke's Bay (3.2 per week on average) which came at a cost of $3.7m – the second highest number and cost from the five-year period.
Across New Zealand, ACC accepted 4360 motorcycle claims that year and paid a total of $103.8m for motorcycle injuries.
The Shiny Side Up Talk Series, which forms part of ACC's Ride Forever injury prevention programme, aims to up skill riders through presentations from industry experts.
The Hawke's Bay leg of the programme, due to take place at the Napier War Memorial and Conference Centre on March 6, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 alert levels.
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ACC injury prevention leader Dave Keilty said riders who complete a Ride Forever course are 27 per cent less likely to make a crash-related injury claim.
"We know there's a big motorcycle community in Hawke's Bay and the sessions are a great chance to bring the community together," he said.
"The crashes riders are having on our roads are preventable. We all need to take time to slow down and assess the risks."
There have been 2758 crashes involving a motorcycle or moped at urban intersections in the past four years in New Zealand. In those crashes, 538 resulted in serious injury and a further 38 fatalities.
The most recent motorcyclist fatality on Hawke's Bay roads was that of Lance Raymond Perry – a 60-year-old from Waipukurau.
He died after a serious crash on State Highway 2, near Takapau, in Central Hawke's Bay on March 1.
Keilty said many motorcycle crashes in Hawke's Bay could be prevented if riders checked one more time before moving off at an intersection.
"Motorbikes are easy to miss, especially in traffic where they can be easily hidden," he said. "Take your time, be sure to look again."
The Hawke's Bay session was due to host four guest speakers.
Andrew Stroud, a renowned professional rider, at the Suzuki Tri-Series at Hampton Downs. Photo / Andy McGechan
Andrew Stroud, a renowned professional rider who won nine New Zealand superbike national championships, was to be joined by Bret Tkacs, an American motorcycle safety export, and Kevin Williams, who runs the Survival Skills advanced rider training in the UK.
