KEY POINTS:
Police will today ride through five of Auckland's most dangerous streets in a bid to raise awareness about motorcycle safety after a large increase in serious accidents.
Since 2001 the number of people claiming for motorcycle accidents around the country has nearly doubled to the point where the crashes are now costing ACC more than $52 million a year.
That cost does not include treatment injured motorcyclists receive in public hospitals.
In the Auckland region the number of claims has risen from 108 in 2001 to 213 last year and the figure looks likely to be even higher this year because there have already been 53 claims since April.
To reduce the number of accidents the police and ACC are today launching a campaign urging drivers to take more time in looking for motorcyclists and for riders to make themselves more visible.
Auckland City police roading manager Inspector Heather Wells said most of the district's motorcycle accidents occurred on five major roads in the city - Great North Rd, Great South Rd, Karangahape Rd, Newton Rd and Ponsonby Rd.
The 43 accidents that have occurred on those five roads between 2001 and 2005 have cost nearly $1 million.
As part of the educational campaign, Auckland motorcycle police officers will lead a group of motorcyclists through those roads, highlighting where previous accidents have occurred. The tour will take place after a Motorcycle Crash Investigator training session this morning at the ASB Showgrounds, where motorcycles will be dropped from a crane to simulate varying speeds of impact.
Ms Wells said 41 per cent of injury motorcycle crashes occurred in situations where drivers did not see the motorcycle.
In 75 per cent of the accidents the motorcyclists were not at fault.
The campaign, which will include advertising on buses and in bus stops, will target motorists via the radio.
