The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) wants to hear from Kiwi motorcyclists on a new guide being developed to help authorities make roads and roadsides safer for riders.
The draft Safer Journeys for Motorcycling guide has been prepared with input from MOTO NZ (the Motorcycle Safety Levy Advisory Council), road controlling authorities, and the ACC.
One of the aims of the guide is to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury crashes involving motorcyclists on New Zealand roads by providing consistent best-practice guidance for those who design, build and maintain them.
The draft guide was distributed to road controlling authorities and other stakeholders in December, and to ensure the guide’s success the NZTA is also keen to hear from individual riders and others with an interest in improving motorcycling safety.
NZTA Chief Executive Geoff Dangerfield says the statistics show there is plenty of scope to make motorcycling safer in New Zealand.
“Looking at crash data per kilometre driven, the risk of a motorcyclist being killed or seriously injured on New Zealand roads is 18 to 20 times higher than that of a car driver. There is much more that can be done to improve safety for motorcyclists, and this guide outlines some practical steps that can be taken.”
While the guide is relevant for everyone interested in motorcycling safety, its primary focus is on how to create safer roads and roadsides, and it will be of particular interest to councils and others who implement safety treatments on high-risk motorcycling routes.
The draft guide and submission forms are available online.
The deadline for contributions is Friday, 27 January 2012. It is expected that the final version of the safety guide will be available in March 2012.
