Notes from the Marlborough Motorcycle Road Safety Group
Meeting Held Tuesday, 3 February 2015 in the
Committee Room, Marlborough District Council
Present:
John Laing (Chairman), Kevin Bright (Ulysses), David Keilty (ACC National Office),
Anthony Barnes (Patriots Motorcycle Club), Peter MacIntosh (MSAC), Grant Andrews
(Police), Ian Wilson, Tom Brown, Robyn Blackburn (MDC), Krista Hobday (Tasman
District Council), Mark Preston-Thomas (ACC), Barrie Greenall (Police),
Derek Harding, Steve James (NZTA)
Apologies:
Chris de Wagt, Jim Furneaux, Jenni Richardson (Tasman District Road Policing
Manager)
In Attendance: Nicole Chauval (MDC)
Discussion points forwarded earlier to ACC, MSAC and Jim Furneaux:
1.
Is there information on ACC Ride Forever Training to-date eg; numbers of riders attending
in each region, number of courses held in each region?
Yes there is by way of monthly reports which are available on request. There are also various
reports available on specific areas (types of crashes in our area) which training can target. On the
completion of the course students are asked to complete a feedback/evaluation form.
David advised a new syllabus was put in place June 2014 and gave an update to the group on the
numbers of riders who have attended training. Nationally, Jan–Dec 2013, there were 540
registrations through their website and with the change in marketing and the different approach
there were 1864 in 2014 which equates to about 144 per month. The current aim is for 2500 per
year possibly going up to 4500 per year.
The website has been improved to be more informative and easier to navigate which should have a
flow on effect and encourage increasing trainee numbers.
1.1.
Is there emphasis on having courses in regions with a high crash rate?
At the moment the highest delivery is in the Auckland area of the north island due to
population rather than crash rate. There are initiatives planned to increase training options in
the South Island. David acknowledged that it has been a learning curve but feels things are
moving in the right direction.
2.
Is the delivery of the courses measured by population density or just total population and
what is the geographical spread?
Initially the targets were set up on the population of motorcycles specifically, of which Auckland has
the most, and the targets for 2015 were derived around that.
It was reported that the possibility of offering training courses for scooter/moped riders is being
investigated. It was acknowledged that the majority of scooter riders are students and there are
issues such as schools requiring students to be in school uniforms. This is definitely an area that
needs work. Peter noted that they have a specific scooter representative on MSAC.
It was asked if ACC are supportive of the Police referral system. David advised that some regions
are keen to do this but other regions have a lack of buy in from offenders. It was noted that
Marlborough is operating the referral system but the onus is on the riders to make contact with the
training provider and at this point there has not been a lot of uptake.
ACC were asked if making gloves compulsory was feasible. This would need to go to Central
Government to get legislative change and that it would need considerable lobbying to be
Marlborough Motorcycle Road Safety Group Meeting 3 February 2015
successful. A suggestion was raised that it be a rule of ‘no exposed skin’ which would be easier to
Police.
An awareness campaign and support for the idea could be published in an article for the
newspaper and put on the Ride to Live website to gain momentum for a legislative change.
3.
When is a detailed report on Ride Forever training planned to be released to the public?
A report will be available after three years of the programme operating to establish a basis for
some sound evaluative comment and is likely to be due around 2017/18. There would however be
regular evaluation updates released on an annual basis.
On a base level ACC can provide reports on request about what is going on in local areas ie; what
crash rates are like, what the crash types are, what type of vehicles are crashing, and can also
report on riders who’ve been on training courses crashing compared to those that haven’t been on
a course.
The main goal of all the training is to reduce injury rate.
4.
How does ACC measure the effectiveness of the Ride Forever training campaign?
Effectiveness will be decided following the three year evaluation based on a number of things.
5.
Are riders, who attend courses and later crash receiving ACC support, contacted for
anecdotal comment to add to evaluation reporting?
This type of information is gathered through normal ACC processes.
6.
Does ACC receive rider evaluations from all Ride Forever training courses?
Yes, every rider completes an evaluation form at the beginning of the course and at the end. They
are asked to comment on what worked really well, what could be improved on, how they found the
course in general, and comments on the provider. Group was advised that ACC take the
suggestions for improvement on board to ensure continued improvement of the training results in
the best course being offered to riders.
7.
Do motorcycle ACC claimants receive packages containing Ride Forever information?
Not currently but it is something that is being considered. Every ACC client receives a large amount
of paper work and reading at the time of their injury and ‘information over-load’ needs to be
managed.
There are ideas and options for ACC to be considering and part of the conversation moving
forward is how to get more riders on courses, and those at risk on earlier rather than later.
David advised that he is happy to speak with people directly and his contact details are.
David.Keilty@acc.co.nz
8.
Safety of roadside barrier installation on SH 1 particularly as more installations are planned
on SH6 between Marlborough and Nelson. Where do ACC sit in regards to the use of wire
road side barriers in respect of motorcycle safety?
There was extensive discussion on the use of wire barriers as a safe guard against run off road
crashes versus their safety for motorcyclists and other road users. It was noted that wire barriers
are more forgiving to the majority of vehicles than other barriers and there is evidence that barriers
prevent fatal or serious crashes for cars and trucks.
Steve advised the group that the installation choice for a wire barrier and W section steel barrier is
based on different deflection distances so depending on what hazard you are protecting motorists
from determines what product is used.
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Marlborough Motorcycle Road Safety Group Meeting 3 February 2015
Peter reported that MSAC have commissioned a report on road side barriers and this should be
available on their website in approximately three months. Peter will let the group know when it is
available. Barriers will also be discussed at the engineering workshops scheduled for February.
The new Picton highway wire rope barrier improvement programme is close to sign off with just a
couple of issues. Members were reminded that if there is anything that seems out of the ordinary
on roads/State Highways to contact Marlborough Roads/NZTA.
9.
What body should advocate for the national standard of inspection cover surfaces to come
into line with the non-slip surface covering that is currently being used in Marlborough on
existing inspection covers?
Steve will discuss with Jim Furneaux and NZTA’s safety people as he agreed that there should be
a standard specification for all covers that is non-slip for all road users and comply with their
intended use. This is an issue that will also be discussed at the up-coming engineering workshops.
10.
What is the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council role?
The Council was initially established by the Government in 2011 when motorcycle registration fees
were increased to include a motorcycle safety levy. All members of the current MSAC are
motorcyclists.
The three main functions of the group are to:
1.
Make recommendations to ACC on how levies are to be invested by providing initiatives that
make a difference and reduce severity of crashes for motorcyclists.
2.
Represent NZ motorcyclists and bring the views of the motorcycle community to Central
Government for discussion alongside other partner agencies such as NZTA, Ministry of
Transport, Police, and local council representation.
3.
Contribute to the delivery of the Safer Journeys Strategy, the Government's road safety
guide over the period 2010 to 2020. The strategy's vision is a safe road system increasingly
free of death and serious injury, and introduces the Safe System Approach to New Zealand.
Peter reported that it is not MSAC’s function to advocate for a reduction in ACC levies. For this to
happen there would need to be a significant reduction of crashes and particularly death and serious
injury crashes over a sustained period of time to reduce this cost. Peter did acknowledge that
MSAC programmes and initiatives are designed to contribute to a reduction in crashes and will add
to the argument against high levies.
Peter advised of one initiative that had been undertaken on the 130 km long Southern Coromandel
Loop. On one 36 km stretch of the road there had been seven deaths and 23 riders seriously
injured over a 10 year period. MSAC engaged an experienced motorcyclist to ride the route several
times in both directions with fitted MSAC funded video equipment commenting on what he saw as
a hazard for motorcyclists. Improvements have been made based on that information.
Peter advised the Rimutaka Hill has received similar treatment, and some South Island routes are
currently being investigated for intervention.
Peter circulated the brochure that was created after improvements were completed to the Loop.
Peter reported that MSAC have been working with NZTA to develop a motorcycle safety guide for
engineers to use when designing and maintaining good roads, and best practise for road repairs.
Engineering workshops/seminars are planned nationally on roading standards and what is the best
way of implementing those standards. This is an effective way to inform those professionals
responsible for designing, building, and repairing roading networks about motorcycling issues. For
example, placement of inspection/service cover lids.
Peter reported that MSAC are funding research and evaluation into motorcycle issues, noting that
they have recently completed a study on the use of lights on motorcycles. Research concluded that
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Marlborough Motorcycle Road Safety Group Meeting 3 February 2015
there was evidence that bike lights can make a difference particularly the lighting configuration on
the front of a bike. Research is on-going.
Going forward:
1.
Motorcycle Summit – Engineering workshops promote MSAC engagement more broadly,
particularly with the motorcycle community and roading professionals.
2.
Advertising – co-ordinating an advertising campaign in spring to coincide with motorcycles
coming back onto the road for summer and aimed at raising rider awareness about personal
safety. For example checking bikes for road worthiness.
3.
The funding available to MSAC is only spent on motorcycle safety initiatives www.masc.org
4.
MSAC would like to see links with the Ride-Forever website and other organisational
websites to reinforce and align safety messages. This would have the advantage of
motorcyclists connecting with one site to link through to other sites offering training, safety
information, and things motorcycling.
What MMRSG can do to assist MSAC going forward?
MSAC would like more information on how Marlborough are covering there ‘at risk’ inspection cover lids –
what checks did we do, what is it we do, who does it, what is it made of.
Keep in regular contact to inform each other what is happening locally and can be disseminated out
further to provide momentum to change things nationally.
Due to time constraints the meeting was concluded at this point. Meeting closed at 3.10 pm.
The agenda items not covered will be covered at a following meeting, time and date to be arranged.
Next meeting Tuesday, 7 April 2015 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm.
(Special additional meeting planned for 3 March 2015 at Council, 12.30pm)
Record No: 1527021
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