NZTA's Cheek in Promoting Bikewise

NZTA's cheek in promoting bikewise

NZTA's support of Bikewise Month, under the premise that "cycling is better for ones health", is questioned by the Candor Trust. Mr Knackstedt says Bike Month also has a message for motorists which is to "respect bikers' rights to be on the road", but vulnerable road users should beware says Candor's Spokeswoman.

Rachael Ford notes that this message, given NZTA's free for all on licences, will make little impression on the legion of unchallenged day time drug drivers, and the approximately 1% driving drunk at any time.

Of the tens of thousands of drunk drivers nabbed yearly one third are repeat offenders - this National disgrace annually repeated shows up a shonky system. Multiple convictions are common, and even 15-20 priors can be seen by NZTA as an acceptable qualifier for licence and 4 wheel vehicle/weapon registration.

While Candor respects cyclists rights to be on the road, this is not without extreme risks, fairly unprecedented in the developed world, due to an ill regulated the licensing system. No amount of protective headgear or visibility markers can readily overcome this oddball Kiwi handicap.

Deceased impaired drivers are an indicator of risky times to be travelling. Daytime risk is increasing in NZ per Transport Ministrty analyses, and the differential is not so great between night and day. In 2008 drunks deceasing in the day numbered 20, versus a slight rise to 33 at night. The spread for drug driving crashes is more even. Impaired driving rates, not average speeds, are the stronger predictor of harm.

The living people that Andy Knackstedt is enticing to run the death and disability gauntlet, for their healths sake, should be under no illusion that NZTA disrespects the general right of confirmed impaired drivers to be on the the road.

Without that noxious luxury, a key revenue stream of notes dipped in cyclist blood would dry up. The quotas for checkpoint busts would become difficult to fill, and Police/NZTA budgets would suffer accordingly.

Candor Trust say current or intending cyclists should take particular note
of the following appalling facts, that were just released to Candor by the Justice Department under the Official Information Act.

Out of the approx. 10,000 repeat drink drivers being caught by Police each year under 500 lose their vehicle, and the right to register one with NZTA. 2009 statistics are unavailable.

In 2008, this dropped to an all time low since such confiscations were first recorded - down to 450 orders to alienate recidivists from 4 wheels.

Only 4.5% of repeat drink drivers (an ever shrinking proportion) - under 1 in 20 - are therefore being told "onya bike" by NZTA, pursuant to judicial leniency. Yet this agency, with statutory road safety responsibility, would rather that the rest of us were!

ENDS

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