STAYING SAFE

TOP TIPS ON... STAYING SAFE

Riding a bike is exhilarating, but comes with real dangers. Here’s how to enjoy riding while staying safe

IT’S A SOBERING statistic, but motorcyclists make up just 0.8% of the total traffic on the UK’s roads, but account for around 20% of the total numbers killed or seriously injured each year.

Despite the millions of pounds spent developing safer systems on motorcycles such as anti-lock brakes and traction control, motorcycle riders do not have the luxury of side impact bars or crumple zones and only one motorcycle – Honda’s Gold Wing – has ever been fitted with an airbag system. That’s why the best way to stay intact on a motorcycle or scooter is not get into a dangerous situation in the first place.

This is why motorcyclists need even greater awareness on the road of their own actions, their surroundings, the road surface and the behaviour of others around them.

But don’t worry – you can cope with it all. Here are some golden rules to help you stay safe.

1

STAY SEEN, STAY SAFE

Visibility isn’t just about how well you can see the road ahead, but it’s also how easily other road users can see you. The Police Rider’s Handbook (Roadcraft) says that a third of drivers involved in a daylight collision with a motorcyclist claim to have not seen the bike or scooter before the crash. At night that figure rises to half. Part of the reason is that bikes can be hard to see from head-on as they are relatively small compared to most other road traffic, making it difficult for the driver to assess their speed and distance.

Also, if the road is very busy, then motorbike and rider can all too easily get lost against a cluttered background, often with disastrous results. This is why you need to make yourself as conspicuous as possible when you are out on the open road.

Statistically, junctions can be a big hazard. Make eye contact with the driver and watch their wheels as they creep out from the junction

2

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Defensive riding is all about staying one step ahead of the game, riding in a style and with a mindset that puts you in the safest position to deal with anything that the road – or other road users – can throw at you.

1LOOK UP

The further you look up the road ahead, the more you’ll see. Move around in your lane if you need a better view and scan the upcoming road conditions a few car lengths ahead, to the road’s ‘vanishing point’. ‘Situational Awareness’ or knowing everything that’s going on around you is key to avoiding dangerous situations.

2ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS

The more time you have to react to a hazard the more likely you are to deal with it safely. Police riders recommend commenting aloud on an upcoming hazard, detailing what you intend to do as it gets closer. Try it.

3PREDICT HAZARDS

A bus stop or parked cars can mean pedestrians; a bouncing ball in the road means children at play; a bare, open road means crosswinds. Experience can help you predict hazards before they appear. Search for the clues and plan accordingly. According to an in-depth study of motorcycle crashes, the most common accidents involve failing to negotiate bends on a country A-road, collisions at junctions, collisions while overtaking and loss of control! ZONES DANGER

4CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS

Your rearward safety check can save your skin – hence why it’s known as the ‘lifesaver’.

5GIVE YOURSELF SPACE

Staying a safe distance behind the vehicle in front gives you a better view ahead and room to stop in an emergency.

3

GOING ROUND THE BEND

Losing control while going round a bend is one the biggest causes of accidents involving motorcycles. Left-hand bends present a bigger danger, because if you lose control here, you generally end up sliding into oncoming traffic.

5 STEPS TO CORNERING SUCCESS

For each corner you take on two wheels, keep these five tips in mind!

1INFORMATION

Consider all the information available in front and behind you, turn your head and use those mirrors! Allow for changes in the road surface and the impact that weather conditions have on the road.

2YOUR POSITION

Your position on the road needs to keep your risk to a minimum and your vision of the bend ahead to the maximum. Be ready to change position in your lane if the situation changes as you go through the bend.

3YOUR SPEED

Are you going too fast for the corner or your skill level? Ensure you adjust your speed for the bend ahead before you enter it.

4CHOOSE YOUR GEAR

On a bike the correct gear ratio gives you better control and allows the use of the throttle to react to any situation that may occur.

5STOPPING DISTANCE

Can you stop in the distance you can see ahead? What if anything is in the road? Plan ahead and have an escape route if possible.