25 March 2011

Leigh Beckhaus, Chairperson of The Motor Industry Association (MIA) Motorcycle Group has expressed her full support for the recent Government announcement which will require compliance of safety requirements on all mopeds (a classification which includes most motorised scooters).

“Our organisation has for many years been lobbying successive governments to apply the same rules to these vehicles as are applied to other forms of motorised transport and this is a significant step towards that outcome” said Leigh. She noted that the new safety compliance regime which would come into effect on 1 July did not go all the way by requiring WOFs but she understood that this was an area that was still under consideration by officials.

“Two wheeled motorised transport is an increasingly popular commuter transport option with upward trending fuel prices and urban traffic constraints and this move will ensure that riders of these vehicles can now have a greater level of confidence that their transport choice will have a better safety compliance regulatory regime” she said.

Leigh concluded by saying that while there was still scope for additional improvements such as a requirement for WOFs and a more up to date classification of smaller powered two wheelers linked to rider licensing, this was an indicator of the Government’s acceptance that powered two wheel transport was a significant contributor to personal transport in New Zealand.

ENDS

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