September is Motorcycle Awareness Month, so riders are being encouraged to brush up on their skills for the warmer months ahead – especially if they’ve been hibernating and not riding much during the winter.
Wellington City Council, the NZ Police and ACC are working together to target motorcycle and moped riders in the capital, and to also remind vehicle drivers to ‘look twice’ for all bikes.
ACC Injury Prevention Leader David Keilty says they encourage riders to refresh their riding skills through Ride Forever coaching.
“The courses include ensuring their riding gear offers the right protection and checking their bike before getting back out on the roads.”
The Council’s Transport Safety Education Coordinator, Anna Blomquist, says there will also be a series of events during the month.
“As well as the seasonal motorcycle and moped checkpoints on the road, there’ll be a free biker breakfast on Friday 20 September, 7am to 9am, at Odlins Plaza on the waterfront (outside Mac’s Brewbar).
“The breakfast is a great opportunity for our commuter riders to learn more about the Ride Forever on-road coaching.”
Wellington District Road Policing Senior Sergeant Simon de Wit says over 80 per cent of the motorcycle and moped crashes attended by Police in Wellington City last year involved multiple vehicles.
“The key message for drivers is that more motorbikes are back on the road, so ‘look twice’ at intersections and before changing lanes. We want to make all road users aware that they play a part in keeping each other safe on the roads.”
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