Guest editorial: Statistically, motorcyclists run a serious risk of injury on our roads. JOHN UNSWORTH, chairman of the Wanganui branch of the NZAA, looks at the problem.
Riding a motorcycle in Wanganui appears to be a risky business.
That is one of the key points to stand out in the just-released regional road crash analysis reports for 2006-10.
Overall, the reports show there were 456 injury crashes in the Wanganui district in those five years, resulting in 23 deaths and 112 serious injuries. In 2010 alone, the estimated social cost to the region for all crashes was $52 million.
One of the most troubling findings is that Wanganui has a much higher proportion of motorcyclists injured in crashes than many other parts of the country. About 10 per cent of injury crashes in New Zealand in the past five years involved motorcyclists, but for Wanganui that figure was 20 per cent on our local roads and 17 per cent on our state highways. Or, to put it another way, nearly one in five of the crashes on our roads that leave someone hurt involves a motorcyclist.
In our neighbouring regions, motorcyclists made up less than 10 per cent of those injured in Manawatu, Ruapehu, Rangitikei and Horowhenua, with Palmerston North City the only place with a similar record at 15 per cent.
In the past five years, our region has seen 98 crashes involving motorcycles.
42 of these crashes were at controlled intersections
42 involved other vehicles which were at fault
There were four fatal crashes, all on rural or state highways and the rider found at fault
The crashes caused 30 serious injuries and 53 minor injuries
For nearly all the crashes, investigators found either going too fast for the conditions, failing to give way or losing control were contributing causes.
Motorcyclists are vulnerable road users. According to the Ministry of Transport, the risk of being injured or killed in a crash is 14 times higher for a motorcyclist than a car driver over the same distance - but why does it seem that the risks are even higher in our part of the country?
Some might speculate we have more bikers on our roads, especially with the Cemetery Circuit motorcycle races making Wanganui a mecca for riders around Boxing Day and the Parapara being a popular road for many on two wheels. But the key fact is we need to find ways to reduce the number of bikers being hurt.
Motorcyclists often say car drivers seem to not see them on the road. "Poor observation" was a factor in more than a third of crashes on Wanganui roads.
From the car driver's perspective, we can all strive to be more aware of motorcyclists. At the same time, riders need to maximise their visibility by having their lights on during the day and wearing high-visibility clothing. No matter what causes a crash, it is an inescapable fact that a motorcyclist will almost always suffer far worse consequences than a motorist.
Those involved in road safety in Wanganui have also recognised this issue and are working to improve motorcyclists' safety with initiatives such as offering discounted training programmes for Wanganui riders to develop their bike control and hazard-avoidance skills. More information on these courses can be found at www.prorider.co.nz
In other findings, going too fast for the conditions was a contributing factor in a third of the fatal and serious crashes on Wanganui local roads and a fifth of those on Wanganui's state highways. This is all traffic, not just motorcycles.
Wanganui had a greater proportion of crashes involving going too fast for the conditions (which may not necessarily be going over the posted speed limit) than Palmerston North City, Manawatu, Rangitikei or Horowhenua.
Frustratingly, alcohol was also a factor in a considerable number of crashes (30 per cent of fatal and serious crashes on local roads and 20 per cent on Wanganui state highways).
Three-quarters of the at-fault drivers in crashes involving alcohol in the Wanganui/Manawatu region being male and half of these being aged under 25.
Like much of the country, young drivers are over-represented in the crash statistics.
On Wanganui's local roads, 40 per cent of the drivers found to be at fault for an injury crash were aged 15-24. On our state highways, the figure was 31 per cent.
Wanganui also had one of the most dangerous intersections in the Wanganui/Manawatu region. The meeting of Somme Parade and Dublin St had the second highest number of crashes of any intersections throughout the area during 2006-10. Almost all the other intersections with a high frequency of crashes were in Palmerston North.
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