A decade of ACC data shows that riders who pass the RideForever course are 26% less likely to be injured in the road crash than other riders. RideForever is one of the world’s longest running and largest rider training programmes.
ACC is satisfied that enough riders have been through the course, (as at 1 July 2024, 40,123 riders have received training), to ensure that the safety results are not a result of selection or confirmation biases.
The Minister for ACC is proposing to replace the current cashback scheme with a 25% lower levy rate, to recognise the lower risk of injury to riders who have advanced rider training, and to incentivise other riders to do the training.
To provide sufficient time to transition from the cashback programme, it is proposed to introduce the lower levy rate from 1 July 2026, and it will apply for two years from the date the rider has passed an approved training course. The two-year period recognises that skills are perishable. Retraining every two years will ensure the rider maintains their skills at a level that warrants the on-going lower levy.
Other courses, if similar, may also attract the lower levy
ACC’s RideForever course has proven that advanced rider training lowers risk of injury. ACC recognises that other courses that provide training to the same standard in the same skills could reduce risk equally.
The Minister is proposing that ACC work with the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council to develop and maintain a list of approved training courses that would be eligible for the lower levy rate. To be approved and attract the lower levy, the course must satisfy the council and ACC that it delivers at least the same outcomes as the Gold RideForever course.
The cumulative impact of the proposals
If ACC’s and the Minister’s proposals are adopted, then the impacts on levy rates can be seen in the tables below. The tables show the impact of the proposed change in aggregate levy rates first followed by the impact of proposed changes that occur in the year. The final levy rates will depend on the range of proposals that are approved by the Government.
