Simon Gotlieb says the skills he learned on a Ride Forever motorcycle course saved his life.

On September 11, 2017, Gotlieb was riding home from work along Paekakariki Hill Road in Porirua.

He was seriously injured when a car pulled out of a driveway in front of him. 

“I had been driving down this road for 10 years and I had never paid attention to this driveway,” says Gotlieb, who has been riding since he was 12.

He was traveling at around 80km/h and had about three seconds to react before he went slamming into the vehicle.

“If I hadn’t been doing that Ride Forever training, and if I hadn’t learnt how to do emergency braking, I’m 100 per cent certain that I would have been dead,” says the 56-year-old.

Gotlieb suffered serious injuries. He broke his ankle and leg, damaged the nerves in his neck and his shoulder, which caused some paralysis. He sustained bruising over most of his body.

“I was lucky to survive and extremely grateful to the medical team for their skilful work.

“ACC was there for me every step of my recovery. I had first class treatment from start to finish.”

In 2022, ACC accepted 4,185 motorbike-related injury claims – the highest number in the past three years.  In 2022, ACC managed 7,000 active claims for motorcyclists with a total cost of $119 million.

Motorbike riders are 21 times more likely to be killed or severely injured in a crash compared to other vehicles.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an ACC and Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) initiative held during September to raise awareness of motorcycle safety.

ACC delivers Ride Forever, an evidence-based training programme that is designed to help riders develop the skills and confidence they need to enjoy a lifetime of riding.

“It’s a day out with like-minded people with the sole focus of getting more out of your riding," says Gotlieb. 

"There's always something to learn, there's always ways to be safer.”

Simon learnt to ride at the age of 12, but his lifetime of riding included a lifetime of bad habits until a friend introduced him to the Ride Forever course.

Ride Forever courses deliver practical riding skills coaching, both online and on-road, as well as rider skills coaching.

They also include information about protective equipment, tips for maintaining your bike and updates with the latest safety technology.

Still actively involved in the motorcycling community, Gotlieb volunteers at local races and mentors younger riders.

Six years on from his accident, Gotlieb still enjoys motorcycling but rides less frequently.

“There’s nothing like giving the bike a good blast,” he says. “But since the accident, I'm having to work a lot harder than I ever had to before, to ride this motorcycle. It tires me out a lot when I ride, so it’s always a considered choice now. But the thrill of motorcycling never changes.”

He has also returned to one of his original loves – music.

Doctors told Gotlieb after his accident that they weren’t sure if he would be able to play guitar again due to nerve damage.

On the second day after his accident, a friend brought a guitar into hospital, and it has played an important part in his recovery.

Music has played a big part in Simon Gotlieb’s recovery.

“Now I’m in four bands and have a business that repairs guitar amplifiers for the stars. I've pushed myself a lot more into doing that stuff to fill up that time that I used to spend on the bike.”

ACC encourages riders to follow these steps to stay safe on the road:

1. Check your bikes are well maintained.
2. Ensure your gear is up to scratch.
3. Refresh your skills by completing an ACC Ride Forever coaching programme.

Learn more about Ride Forever at www.rideforever.co.nz

Motorcycle Awareness Month

• During September you can register for a course for free using the MAM23 code when you book
• Also check out if you are eligible for Cashback, get $100 off your rego for two years!