-
File photo of a motorcyclist. - Source: Photos.com -
Watch Video
-
Related
The widow of the fist motorcyclist killed on New Zealand roads this year is calling a new government initiative to improve rider safety a "good starting point".
The government is investing $2 million a year in a new council to establish improved motorcycle safety initiatives.
The funds are coming from the recent hike in ACC levies which sparked a massive biker protest on parliament.
Mark Egbers wore the right gear, travelled at the right speed and did a defensive driving course. But that couldn't save the 48-year-old when he was involved in a head-on collision with another rider on January 2.
Police said the other rider crossed the centre line on a corner on a Coromandel road.
"He just loved it and he would come back absolutely buzzing, just so happy, not a care in the world after a good ride. And so it was worth him doing that, it was what made his life just right," his wife Sue told ONE News.
Motorcyclists are dying at a rate of nearly one a week on New Zealand roads with 50 New Zealanders dying in motorcycle accidents in 2010, up from 30 in 2000.
Motorcyclists make up 3% of registered vehicles but 13% of fatalities.
Now the government has created the safety council in a bid to put the brakes on the trend.
The Advisory Council, led by Gareth Morgan, will be funded from the $30 per year ACC motorcycle safety levy.
ACC Minister Nick Smith said the initiative has partly stemmed from the anger motorcyclists felt about the increase in levies. Many of those responsible for the ride against the rise are represented on the council.
"We don't want to pay the levy and they don't want us to have accidents," Morgan said. "One goes with the other so we need to just get on and exploit what we can out of this."
Morgan said the group will look at improving road hazard signage for motorcyclists, as well as raising safety awareness.
Sue Egbers said $2 million is a starting point but it will require a lot more to educate people properly.
Smith expects the council to report back mid-year with its first round of ideas and said if the number of accidents goes down so will the levies.
"This new initiative is about the government working with motorcyclists to improve safety, save lives and reduce the costs of accidents," he said.
"We need government agencies and motorcycle organisations working together to reverse the ugly and deadly trend over the past decade in motorcycle accidents."
Smith said the initiative is based on international best practices.