What does every motorcyclist riding in the Coromandel region need for their bike? A handy map of the location which doubles as a visor cloth of course.
New Zealand Police Road Policing Group in the Coromandel have teamed up with the local Road Safety Co-ordinator from Eastern Waikato councils to distribute a limited supply of the cloths.
Developed alongside ACC, these cloths also give the local council and NZ Transport Agency state highway phone number in a bid to encourage motorcyclists to report any issues they come across on their ride.
Strategic Traffic Unit Sergeant and Officer in Charge Jim Corbett says while the Coromandel has some of the best riding in the world, police really don't want any more crashes in the region.
'Motorcycles are over represented in New Zealand for fatal and serious crashes.
'They account for 15 per cent of all road deaths, 10 per cent of all road injuries and are 20 per cent of ACC's claims, yet motorcyclists account for less than 3 per cent of road users.”
Jim appreciates that riding in the Coromandel can be challenging for new or inexperienced riders.
'Our roads push rider's concentration and skill level to the limit in some spots, so they may not be appropriate for all riders. Do your homework and make the safe choice for you.”
East Waikato Road Safety Co-ordinator Ingrid Le Fevre explains the polishing cloth has been developed with motorcyclists in mind and features contact numbers, riding tips and what to look out for, plus a map and information for the Rideforever website on it.
Ingrid says they really want to encourage motorcyclists to upskill as more than a third of fatal crashes are caused by riders losing control of their bike.
'Our Coromandel roads can have anything on them from loose gravel, cows, diesel spills, campervans and boats being towed you never know what is around the windy corners.
'Nearly three-quarters of fatal motorcycle crashes happen on the open road and often on bends, our roads are amazing to ride and wearing good protective gear helps keep you safe.
'Why not give your rider the gift of experience this year and get them some rider training.”
If you're travelling to the Coromandel this summer and want the chance to win a limited edition polishing cloth keep an eye on the 'Safer Coromandel' Facebook and Instagram pages.
4 comments
everyone respect the road
Posted on 10-12-2016 13:38 | By hapukafin
Every driver needs to respect the road particularly around the Coromandel.Expreienced on many occassion where motor cyclists think they own the road and overtaking without respect to other drivers.
GOSH
Posted on 10-12-2016 21:07 | By old trucker
A chance to win a limited edition polishing cloth, YIPPEE,have travelled that loop several times with the older guys group, we did not have any problems,if you ride sensible things go great,take your time,as the saying goes, go you hoon, HELL is only half full, my 5 bobs worth No1 in the Bay Thankyou,10-4 out.
hapukafin...I agree..............
Posted on 10-12-2016 22:29 | By groutby
but.....naive comments such as yours do nothing to help the situation. I agree with the comment initially in your reply, but you immediately show your disrespect for motorcyclists on our roads. Whilst I agree there are many idiot bikers out there, it simply does NOT mean that cagers need to target these guys with a will to endanger the safety of another road user. If you can truly show and demonstrate that all bikers are evil and should not be on the road, then please do...raise the issue with Police, fact: there is little ability to judge pace (not speed...pace), EVEN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON!..so little ability to judge when to pull out in front of etc..so we bikers are injured and killed by cagers INABILITY to make safe decisions..how do we overcome this so we get to live and write into Sunlive?...
Yeah right Groutby, you are one of the persucuted few....
Posted on 11-12-2016 21:03 | By CC8
You choose to ride a bike, ride it responsibly , your calling other vehicle driver "cagers" is straight out of the 70's, Easyriders rhetoric . Both disrespectful and insincere. The difference between speed and pace is pure physics, if you travel at constant speed your pace will not change over a certain distance. If you ride erratically, and approach other vehicles which are joining the traffic flow ,whilst accelerating, then yes your pace will change and make it hard for the other motorists to judge . I ride for pleasure (45+ years in the saddle) and drive for profession, I see idiots on both sides of the fence every day, bikers kill themselves by their own inability to make safe decisions...man up and take responsibility for your own actions. Ride to Survive.
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