Tricky roads kill biker tourists

By MATHEW DEARNALEY


At least two motorcycle touring companies have lost overseas clients in fatal road accidents this year, prompting criticism of the condition of some roads.

The head of Christchurch-based Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours, John Rains, says a lack of warning signs about poor road conditions is a constant hazard and contributed to the death of an American client inland from Kaikoura in February.

A coroner ruled that William Hill Prescott, aged 53, of California, died from spleen rupture after exceeding a recommended speed on a moderate bend and sliding on gravel.

But Mr Rains said there should have been a warning sign about the gravel, and he had found several other patches of unmarked loose metal on the same road when visiting the site to place a plaque in Mr Prescott's memory.

Five tourists had been killed on his motorcycles since he began business 17 years ago, and at some spots "we have accidents every year despite forewarning clients".

"Poor road conditions, lack of signposts, diesel spillages are an ongoing disgrace in this country - nearly all accidents we encounter have road conditions as a major contributing factor."

He recalled being among casualties when riding with five other motorcyclists through the Waipoua kauri forest in Northland several years ago and hitting a large patch of road treatment lime.

"The bloke who was supposed to be operating the stop-go sign was sitting by a tree somewhere and every single bike went down."

Mr Rains said the most dangerous spots were two combined road-rail bridges between Greymouth and Hokitika, where "every single year somebody is injured" despite being warned to take great care when crossing the tracks.

This was unacceptable on a main tourist route, he said.

Although his guides gave clients regular morning briefings on the weather and likely road hazards, they told people they had to "ride your own ride" and to judge the right pace for their capabilities.

The owner of Auckland-based NZ MotorCycle Rentals, Darren Tonar, said one of his clients was killed three years ago after hitting a track on the northern of the two West Coast road-rail bridges.

Four customers had been killed since he began his business 11 years ago, the most recent a German man in his 70s who he said panicked on a corner in April and ended under the wheels of an oncoming truck.

Mr Tonar said about 600 people a year joined his tours, mainly from the United States or Europe, paying varying rates up to $8000 for 12 days on his largest 1800cc motorbikes.

He acknowledged that some overestimated their abilities, but said guides were careful to explain the dangers of local roads.

"We try to scare them a bit," he said.

His guides kept a close eye on older clients on the last day of a tour, when their concentration tended to flag.

Kaikoura District Council chief executive Stuart Grant said a contractor cleared all loose gravel after resealing the bend in question, but a small amount of chips later dislodged at the centre of the road, which Mr Prescott would not have hit had he stayed on his own side.

Police national road safety manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald said motorcyclists were 14 times more likely to be killed on the road than drivers and difficult terrain called for extra cautionary advice from tour operators.

Transit NZ's national network operations manager, Dave Bates, said it went to great lengths to signpost hazards and denied presiding over substandard roads.

TOUR DEATHS

* Five tourists have died on trips by Christchurch firm Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours since the business began 17 years ago.

* Auckland-based NZ MotorCycle Rentals has lost four customers in 11 years.