Government pledge $2m to motorcycle safety initiatives

The Government is to commit an additional $2 million a year from ACC levies to reverse the 'ugly and deadly' trend higher in motorcycling fatalities. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

The Government is to commit an additional $2 million a year from ACC levies to reverse the "ugly and deadly" trend higher in motorcycling fatalities, with prominent biker Gareth Morgan heading the council that will oversee safety initiatives.

"This new initiative is about the Government working with motorcyclists to improve safety, save lives and reduce the costs of accidents," Accident Compensation Corporation Minister Nick Smith said.
The programme will be funded by the $30 year Motorcycle Safety Levy with administrative costs met by ACC.

The new Motorcycle Safety Levy Advisory Council, which will oversee the application of the money, met today for the first time. It is chaired by prominent motorcyclist, fund manager and philanthropist Gareth Morgan and includes representatives from the mature bikers organisation the Ulysses Club, women's bikers and scooter riders' groups.

The increasing popularity of motorcycling in recent years has seen a rapid increase in the number of fatalities among bikers - from 30 in 2000 to 50 last year during which time the overall road toll has fallen.
Over the same period ACC motorcycle claims rose from 1072 to 4110.
Dr Smith said the one a week fatality rate was unacceptable.

The initiative announced today was based on those in other countries including in Victoria, Australia where biking fatalities and serious injuries had fallen by 20 per cent since 2002 when the state government there introduced a specific motorcycle safety levy programme and council.

"If we could achieve likewise, it would save 10 motorcycle fatalities per year," said Dr Smith.

"We need Government agencies and motorcycle organisations working together to reverse the ugly and deadly trend over the past decade in motorcycle accidents."