Motorcyclists unfairly targeted -

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.3news.co.nz/Motorcyclists-unfairly-targeted---research/tabid/423/articleID/156220/Default.aspx Motorcyclists unfairly targeted -
Professor Charles Lamb has been researching the causes of motorcycle accidents
Mon, 17 May 2010 6:26p.m. By Jessica Rowe
A Lincoln professor has found that motorcyclists are being unfairly blamed for the high proportion of accidents they are involved in.
Professor Charles Lamb says motorbike crash statistics are often misleading and inaccurate.
Mr Lamb has been researching the causes of motorcycle accidents after he believed New Zealand’s statistics were too inconsistent with other countries.
He reviewed the 2008 crash analysis database, looking at every individual report.
In his research, Mr Lamb found that 40 percent of motorcycle accidents are caused by other motorists – and visibility is the main factor in the accidents.
“The motorists would say, ‘Oh I didn’t see them’, and then go, ‘They must have been speeding’ – but it’s the profile of the bike being slim that is causing the problem,” Mr Lamb says.
While the visibility of the bike can be improved by riding with the lights on, which is now law, we also need to focus on training motorists, Mr Lamb says.
“When motorcyclists have control over 60 percent of what they are involved in, targeting the motorcyclists on things such as speed – which isn’t as big a factor – is leading people up the wrong path.”
Mr Lamb is questioning why motorcyclists are being penalised by Government agencies, such as Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
“In 25 percent of the cycle claims there is only one vehicle involved,” he says.
Mr Lamb will be presenting his findings tomorrow night.