MOTOR-CYCLE ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 8

MOTOR-CYCLE ACCIDENTS

“HALF ARE CAUSED BY MOTORISTS”

UNION SPOKESMEN REPLY TO CHARGES (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, July 19. When the Assistant Traffic Engineer to the Transport Department (Mr B. C. Campbell) addressed the annual conference of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union on Saturday on the subject of third party risk for motor-cycles he was vigorously answered by two members.

Claims of non-co-operation from the Commissioner of Transport, and figures disputing the claims of insurance organisations were put before the meeting. Both members suggested that pressure should be brought to bear on kindred organisations. Criticism Was made of the suggestion by the Commissioner that more efficient patrolling could be done by his officers with less mileage. Mr Campbell had referred to one of the r.emits considered by the conference, which asked for an inquiry into the increase in third party premiums for motor-cyclists over the last seven years. Claims against motor-cycle accidents had exceeded premiums paid by motor-cyclists by 43 per cent. Last year the excess had been 9 per cent., which accounted for the rise in the premiums.

Mr T. R. McCleary (Christchurch) suggested that motor unions should request the automobile associations to institute a ranger system for the vehicles under their supervision. Motor-cyclists were responsible for only a portion of the accidents and were not as bad as painted by the Transport Department. “In 1952-53 there was only a .6 per cent, increase in accidents where motor-cyclists were to blame,” he said. “At the same time there was a 9 per cent, increase in motor-cycle registrations. It is said that 50 per cent, of motor-cycle accidents are caused by other motorists. It is about time other motor organisations put their own house in order. Reduced Patrols Criticised

“The Commissioner has claimed in defence of his Minister that his engineers have evolved a system whereby they could give the same cover with fewer miles of patrol. If such is the case it would appear that the Transport Department has been exceedingly inefficient 'in the past. It is ridiculous to say that greater coverage can be given with reduced mileage without additional staff. “In my opinion one of the most important aspects of this whole situation is the big factor of other vehicles in motor-cycle accidents, and it is- difficult to understand how this problem can be overcome without added supervision in the way of increased staff.” Mr Campbell: Those are hard words. The secretary of the union (Mr T. J. B. Mason, of Hamilton) t discussed the subject of third party risk. “After a letter from the Minister of Transport in 1952 the conference of that year took no further action on this subject,” he said. "This year third party premiums for motor-cyclists have gone up to such an extent that the amount now payable is higher than that paid by the private car owner. “Taking round figures, there are 30,000 motor-cyclists registered this year, and the increase in premiums amounts to approximately £7OOO. This means a premium income to the insurance organisations of £65,000.

Accident Figures Examined “In drawing attention to the number of motor-cycle accidents the Commissioner said that 48 per cent, of them were not the fault of the motorcyclist. That being the case, practically half of the claims for third party damages must have been recoverable against another party; in other words, half of the motor-cyclists meeting with accidents where a third party is involved must be causing damage to the extent of more than £65,000 a year.

“My union would require some really concrete evidence before accepting these figures, particularly in view of the fact that in most accidents involving a motor-cyclist it is the motor-cyclist who is injured, not a third party. I was instructed to obtain certain information from the Commissioner. It was not forthcoming. “I asked him for three things: the number of motor-cycles registered each year for the last five years, the amount of premiums paid in that time, and amount of claims paid out for third party personal damage over the same period. In his reply the Commissioner gave the answer to the first question but said the answers to the second and third were not available. “However in the final paragraph of his letter he quoted certain percentages which could only be obtained if tiie figures I asked for were known to him. I have since applied to an insurance organisation and they told me the figures were available from the Transport Department. “The Auto Cycle Union is a responsible body of businessmen. . . . All we ask is the respect given to kindred organisations. In reply Mr Campbell said he could not understand why the union had not been given the information, but ‘he assured the meeting it would be forthcoming, ■pie department was 100 per cent, behind the union and clubs.