Motor Scooter safety Motor Scooter safety
Mopeds or motor scooters are cheaper to buy and run than cars, and you can ride in special vehicle lanes, such as T2, T3 and bus lanes. Always wear safety gear, including a helmet.
Auckland Transport is now a Vision Zero region, under Tamaki–Makaurau Road Safety Governance Group’s new Safety Strategy.
There were 79 serious crashes involving mopeds in Auckland from 2016 to 2020. Around 49% happened when a vehicle was turning and in 78% another vehicle was involved. Auckland Transport is committed to making our roads safer for everyone.
Scooter sense
Scooter sense is about anticipating and avoiding hazards.
To keep safe while riding, think about:
- your lane position — stay out of blind spots so people ahead can see you
- your speed — ride slow enough that you can stop quickly if someone stops suddenly or turns in front of you
- space to stop — keep a safe following distance from the car in front and always stay 2 seconds or more behind.
Scooter survival training courses
ACC run Scooter Survival coaching. It costs $20 for 4 hours of on-road coaching. It’s a great idea to learn these safe riding skills, especially if you are riding a moped with a car licence.
On-road rider coaching boosts your skills and confidence, helps keep you safe and makes every ride more fun.
The coaching covers the crucial skills you need to stay safe when riding. It is designed for scooter riders in cities and commuters. It teaches skills like:
- positioning to see and be seen
- safe and effective braking
- dealing with traffic
- cornering.
To find out more and register, go to On-road coaching.
Scooter sense videos
Scenario 1: A car is turning in front of you from the wrong lane or changing lanes (grey car)
See the car on your right.
Sense cars can suddenly turn in front of you.
Action — you need to:
- stay out of blind spots
- do not pass too fast to the left of other vehicles.
Scenario 2: A car is pulling out from gas station or retail car parks (white car)
See the car on your left.
Sense cars can pull out without seeing you.
Action — you need to:
- stay visible in your lane - be aware of your lane position
- ride slow enough that you can stop quickly.
Scenario 3: A car brakes suddenly in front of you or does a U-turn (blue car)
See the car in front of you.
Sense cars can brake suddenly or do a U-turn in your path.
Action — you need to:
- keep a safe following distance so you always have space to stop
- stay out of blind spots and check your position in relation to other vehicles.
Useful resources for safer scooter journeys
The official New Zealand road code for motorcyclists (opens in a new tab)
Ride Forever - Online coaching (opens in a new tab)
Related content
Motorcycle and scooter parking