Today in Canterbury it is teeming down and it’s interesting to see how many cars are using their lights. What amazes me is that if I headed out to the Highway, say Christchurch to Timaru, at least 30% of the vehicles will have no lights on and are essentially invisible to oncoming traffic. What is even more worrying is the fact that the Police seem to be the lst to put their lights on during times of poor visibility, so much for them been ‘professionally trained’ or is it they don’t want to be seen to catch others!!!
Anyway, last week I attended a seminar on the Causal Factors of Motorcycle Accidents in New Zealand. This was the findings based on research of traffic accidents involving motorcycles and other vehicles. It was not surprising to hear that the majority of motorcycle accidents were caused by the ‘other vehicle‘ so the Government’s attempts to reduce motorcycle accidents by focusing on the rider will be completely in vain as it’s the ‘drivers’ who need the education campaign.
I have attached the full document to this post but one of the most interesting points mentioned was that motorcyclists were statistically safer ‘drivers’ than people who only drive. This was not surprising as I guess most motorcyclists use the same skills they use on a bike to survive when the drive, such as:
- Been more observant of what is happening by having a greater field of vision than drivers who sit in a cocooned shell oblivious to what is going on around them.
- Been more visible than other road users. It would be interesting to see if motorcyclists, when driving, are the first to turn main beam lights on (people who just use parking lights on the highway should have their driving licence removed for been stupid).
- They assume every other driver is an idiot and that a sheep is more predicable in relation to what it will do.
- They drive to the conditions as they are more aware of them. They know a wet road is less safe than a dry one, that pot-holes and loose shingle affect adhesion greatly and would modify their driving behavior accordingly.
It seems in Findland, between the ages of 15 to 18, the only thing the kids can drive is a 50 cc scooter. After 18 they can commence training (not driving) which takes them two and a half years to complete. Is it any wonder we have so many kids killing themselves, and others, when at the age of 15 (increasing to 16) they can go out and drive the latest Porsche without having gained any driving skills. We need to take a leaf out the Finnish experience and force everyone who wants a car licence to start driving with a 50cc scooter as the skills they learn from that may end up saving their life, and others.
causal-factors-in-mvmas-v5-hand-out-19-may-2010
