Comments on: Bike Beneficiaries

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:27:15 +0000

Nick Smith misinforms as the statistics presented in the parliament website are only partial and not fully in context to compare against other road users costs (yes pedestrians and cyclists to be included). If these stats were presented in 2008 we would see 38 fatalities 2008 and in 1998 yet bike numbers increased by 50% from 1998 to 2008! Not a politically convenient year to attempt the current circus of excuses. Also, lets take it the true capitalist concept of user pays, why not send sky high the ACC levy of those at fault in an accident (hopefully then keeping them off the road) and see discount levels for set years of safe driving. As we cannot shoot the at fault, barrack room justice as a result of all paying for the few cannot be applied.
I would rather see objective and valid statistics gathered and presented (oxymoron for a politician assisting privatisation?) Yep, privatisation did wonders for Wellington trains service.

By: MacDoctor

MacDoctor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:09:43 +0000

Bruce:

Thanks for that. I wasn’t aware that ACC had a discount scheme.
Good idea though…

By: Bruce Hamilton

Bruce Hamilton — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:12:02 +0000

The ACC must be confused then, as their www site notes that companies can be rewarded for managing their claims, not for assuming risks.

For one scheme…
” The three levels of discount available include:
• 10% (primary level) – programme entry level requirements
• 15% (secondary level) – consolidation of good practice
• 20% (tertiary level) – continuous improvement, best practice framework”

Note the 20% is for “continuous improvement”, which I assume doesn’t mean increased accidents…

They also note that for some partnership schemes, the participant’s levies will be assessed annually – based on a combination of the risk group levies ( the normal Industry base rates ) and the company’s claim history.

My understanding was that the programme is intended for organisations that are actively controlling and reducing accidents/claims. The ACC frequently audit participants to ensure they have active injury prevention and reporting programmes ( to eliminate one obvious method of reducing accident premiums ).

By: MacDoctor

MacDoctor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:02:08 +0000

Bruce: The ACC partnership program does not reward you for lowering your risk, it rewards you for assuming some of the risk. Although you are paying a lower premium, you also have less coverage.

Of course, if you have a good safety record, taking reduced coverage does have advantages. But, at the end of the day, you are still not insured as well as the risk-takers.

By: Bruce Hamilton

Bruce Hamilton — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:25:14 +0000

“Not exactly, Bruce. ACC modifies premiums for entire industries and parts of industries, rather than one particular company or another.”

The ACC partnership programme offers very significant lower levies to individual companies that sign up ( and who also may have the opportunity to assume some of the risk ) compared to the general levies for the risk groups present in the company.

One of my previous employers joined the programme and immediately had ACC levy savings sufficient to pay a new full-time safety officer to help minimise workplace accidents and still have some spare savings.