By Jessica Rowe
A South Island motorcycle rally this weekend has been condemned by the Police as a recipe for disaster as riders must travel at least 2000 kilometres in 48 hours.
The rally starts and finishes in Christchurch and riders can choose a route between 150 locations, where they must cover at least 2000 kilometres in just 48 hours and prove it by taking a photo of their special competition t-shirt at the various locations as they go.
But Police say the rally is dangerous and they will stopping riders throughout the weekend.
“With a minimum distance of 2000 kilometres over 48 hours we believe it encourages speed and fatigue,” says Senior Sergeant Steve King.
It is the fourth year the competition has been running and so far there has been one death, but motorcyclists say Police are overreacting.
“It is a challenging rally, it is 2000 kilometres but I think it is about responsibility,” says Matt Anderson.
“Motorcycling riding is dangerous because you’ve got a lot of idiots in cars trying to kill you when you go out there, apart from that motorcycling is real safe,” says Kevin Vates.
But statistics suggest otherwise, with motorcyclists making up two percent of vehicles on the road, but 17 percent of fatal crashes.
From 48 road deaths so far this year, nine of them involved motorcycles.
“If we see the guys coming through, we will be stopping them,” says Mr King.
But event organisers say Police are wasting their time as competitors average speed will be around 75 kilometres and hour and safe riding is paramount.
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