Motorcycle Awareness Month 2024: A Call to Action for Safer Roads in New Zealand

As Motorcycle Awareness Month 2024 kicks off, Ride Forever, in partnership with the Wairarapa Road Safety Council, Waka Kotahi and ACC, is urging all road users to be more vigilant and considerate towards motorcyclists. This annual campaign aims to enhance the safety of motorcyclists across New Zealand.

Over the past decade, motorcycle-related crashes have been a significant concern in New Zealand. According to the Ministry of Transport, there have been 2583 motorcycle-related crashes causing death and serious injury between 2018 and 2022. These alarming statistics highlight the need for increased awareness and proactive measures to protect motorcyclists on our roads.

Motorbikes make up 4.5% of the vehicles on the road (and cover even fewer of the kilometers traveled), yet they account for 20% of all deaths and serious injuries. On average, just over 50 riders and pillions are involved in fatal crashes each year. Males aged 40 years and older have the highest representation of these statistics.

Key Statistics:

- In the last 5 years, motorcycle-related crashes have resulted in 265 fatalities nationally.

- Serious injuries from motorcycle crashes have totaled 2318 (496 in just 2022) nationally in the same period.

- The Wairarapa region has seen a disproportionate number of these incidents, making it a major focus for this year's awareness efforts.

Motorcycle Awareness Month 2024 will feature a series of initiatives, including:

- Educational Campaigns: Promoting safe riding practices and encouraging motorists to be more aware of motorcyclists.

- Safety Checks: Before you plan to head out on your ride, ensure your motorcycle is roadworthy and safe to ride. Visit your favorite local motorcycle mechanic for a safety check.

- Asking All Riders to Wear Yellow: Wear some yellow when you ride, or even something under your riding gear so people can see it when you stop for a coffee. Bright yellow has always been associated with MAM. The added bonus is that it is an excellent way of increasing your visibility to other road users. Don’t have anything yellow to wear? Add some yellow tape to your bike.

- Get $200 Off Your Motorcycle Rego - The Motorcycle Rego Cashback programme offers experienced riders, who are eligible, a $200 cashback on their motorcycle rego. Find out more about the eligibility for the Cashback on the Ride Forever website.

Through education and community involvement, we can significantly reduce the number of motorcycle-related accidents. Motorcycle Awareness Month is an opportunity for everyone to commit to making our roads safer for all users.

Holly Hullena, Projects Coordinator at Wairarapa Road Safety Council, emphasized the importance of this campaign: "The Wairarapa region has seen too many tragic incidents involving motorcyclists. This campaign is crucial in raising awareness and educating both riders and drivers about the importance of road safety. We are proud to support Motorcycle Awareness Month and its initiatives."

Motorcyclists are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available during this month, including advanced riding courses offered by Ride Forever, which have been proven to reduce crash rates among participants.

Drivers can play their part too through our 'Look Again' campaign. This campaign is aimed at other road users, reminding them that motorcycles are hard to spot and to simply look again.

"By working together, we can create a safer environment for everyone on the road," added Hullena. "Our goal is to see a significant reduction in motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities through these collective efforts."

For more information on Motorcycle Awareness Month 2024 and how you can get involved, please visit [Ride Forever's Website](https://www.rideforever.co.nz/riding-in-new-zealand/motorcycle-awareness-month/motorcycle-awareness-month-2024/).