Make a bad decision or go too fast on four and 18-wheels and you might survive. But do that on two wheels and the consequences can be fatal is the message from Waikato Police following the District's eighth motorbike fatality.
District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Freda Grace, said the call comes following the death of 27-year-old motorcyclist, Krishneel Kristopher KUMAR, of Hamilton early on Saturday evening.
"Mr KUMAR was also known as Sonny Viper ZANDER and we would like to express to his family the Police's condolences for their loss.
"The crash in which Mr KUMAR lost his life is currently under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit however initial indications are it happened when his 2005 Honda CBR 1000 failed to negotiate an S-bend on Cambridge Rd and collided with an oncoming Toyota Corolla car."
Mrs Grace said the motorcyclist died at the scene while the elderly woman driving the car was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance in shock.
"The car driver tried to take evasive action when the motorcycle crossed the centreline by pulling left on to the gravel but she was unable to avoid a head-on collision.
"The corner on which the collision occurred had a speed advisory sign of 70km/h but it appears the speed of the impact was greater than this. In such situations poor decision making, particularly around speed, can have terrible consequences."
Mrs Grace said with Saturday's crash taking the number of people killed on Waikato roads to 32 from 31 crashes and the number of motorcycle fatalities on the District's roads to eight, the public can expect to see a heightened Police focus on reducing motorcycle related road trauma.
"Nationally the number of motorcycle road fatalities this year has been 33, that means the Waikato has accounted for a quarter of all the country's motorcycle deaths alone.
"Something needs to be done and from our perspective we will be continuing to conduct motorbike safety focused checkpoints over this weekend, targeting popular summer riding routes."
While Police and partner agencies do their part, Mrs Grace said the public can play a part as well in trying to prevent loved ones on two wheels coming to any harm.
"Ride your own ride- if you feel you have to keep up you're probably riding outside both your comfort and your experience zones.
"Riders need to ensure they keep their heads on their side of the road when cornering- don't let it cross the centreline. Brake and change down a gear before entering a corner, enough that you'll be able to gently open the throttle on the way through."
Mrs Grace said the Waikato has a lot of enjoyable and challenging rides for motorcyclists to gain experience on this summer, the trick is to ride to survive to ensure riders are in one piece for more summers to come.