THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT - STATISTICS!
The results of the Motorcycle Action Groups (MAG) Fear
Factor survey on motorcycle and scooter theft are due for release in April 2003.
To begin the debate on insurance, security and theft MAG is publishing an article on Motorcycle theft statistics
put together by its Public Relations department.
It highlights the trials and tribulations of statistics - also known as 'Lies and more damned lies'.
In November 2002, the Home
Office released the Motorcycle Theft Index in which there is a breakdown of the vulnerability to theft of all makes and models of scooters, mopeds and motorcycles, generally described as Powered Two
Wheelers (PTWs).
For riders the most important piece of news from the Home Office is that 73% of motorbikes stolen are UNDER 200cc and mainly scooters. - So, why are we paying through the nose to
insure larger cc bikes against theft?
Prior to this study there were different theft statistics released which are still being used by various agencies and organisations as the source of PTW
theft in this country. Figures vary from 35,000 people affected by PTW thefts to total thefts of 36,822 or data analysed was only relative to 28,957 thefts with reference only to England and Wales with
regards to recoveries.
MAG's article will demonstrate the twisted path of motorcycle theft statistics in this country and let you - the rider decide on whether you can believe the numbers game
that insurance and security companies are playing.
In conclusion, up until now motorcyclists have been lead to believe that the greatest risk of theft were the higher engine sized bikes like the
Honda Fireblade or the Yamaha R1 and accordingly riders have been paying through the nose for insurance because of this misleading information - which by the way, has come from the Police and the
National Criminal Intelligence Service.
Because this issue has not been publicised, riders will continue to be stung by insurers, with the added bonus for the insurers that they can now sting
scooter owners as well for having a higher "proven" rate of theft.
