Harrogate Borough Council

Service Provided by

Travelwise & Road Safety Manager
Transport Services
e-mail
Phone: 01423 556613
Fax: 01423 556510
Textphone: 01423 556543
Knapping Mount
West Grove Road
Harrogate
HG1 2AE

External Links

Road Safety - Motorcyclists

Fact file

347 riders were killed and 2,464 seriously injured on non built up and B roads in 2002.
242 riders were killed and 4,287 seriously injured in the same period in urban areas.

In addition there were 20 killed and 140 seriously injured on motorways.

The Government's road safety strategy document, Tomorrow's Roads: Safer For Everyone, has set a target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads by 40 per cent by 2010. Broadly the targets of this strategy are being met, but motorcyclists are disproportionately involved in fatal and serious injury crashes. One in five deaths on the roads in 2003 was a motorcyclist.

Main results for 2003 show that overall motorcycling casualties remained at about the 2002 level at 28,411 in 2003. But with the number of motorcyclists killed in 2003 up 14 per cent to 693 and the number of seriously injured up 1 per cent to 6,959, there is an even greater need for concerted action.

DON'T BE A STATISTIC!

Photo: Van about to turn right with motorcyclist too close behind

Anyone who rides a motorcycle or scooter knows that they can be the fastest way from A to B. Riding them is also exhilarating. And word is getting around - more and more people are taking up motorcycling. But with traffic conditions these days, it's more important than ever that you can deal with the unexpected.

Take a look even if you've been riding for years. Injuries are rising. Make sure you don't end up as a statistic.

Whether you ride to get to work, are an enthusiast riding every day, or just get your bike out on a sunny day - make sure it doesn't happen to you.

Riding skills

To keep out of trouble YOU'VE GOT TO BE GOOD.

If you're already good, make yourself better. The best motorcyclists ride defensively so they are less likely to have accidents. We all meet idiots on the road and motorcyclists are vulnerable to their mistakes. Those with good defensive skills ride like they expect to meet one every second. They are in control, so they enjoy more relaxed riding.

Make sure you:

Anticipate the actions of motorists.
Are alert and observant. Important when you are negotiating junctions or roundabouts; and when you need to look out for other vulnerable road users - children, pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders.
Ride at a speed that will enable you to slow down and stop in good time. The unexpected can happen. And ride according to the conditions: slow down if it's wet, foggy or icy.
Position yourself in the best place. Usually the middle of the lane. But take up your road position in good time before turning right or left, showing others what you aim to do.
Overtake safely. Can you see hazards? Is there a bend or a junction? Can you overtake without speeding up or swerving too much?
Take a 'lifesaver' glance over your shoulder before carrying out manoeuvres when you need to know where other drivers are and what they are doing.
Are seen. Dipped headlights, even in good daylight, can help you to be seen.

Sometimes other drivers will wind you up. But if you act aggressively you may have to pay the penalty. Count to 10 and congratulate yourself on your cool-headedness. And however tempted you are, don't race on public roads. Save it for the race track.

If you want to know more, read the Driving Standards Agency publication Motorcycle riding: the essential skills. You can also take advanced training. There are different schemes to suit your needs.

What to wear

Buy the right gear before you get on your motorcycle.

You need:

An approved helmet that fits securely. Replace it if you think it is damaged. A white or brightly coloured helmet can help you to be seen.
Good clothing - and that means jackets, trousers and boots. The best is CE marked and can protect you from getting hurt if you come off. It should be fluorescent during the day and reflective at night.
Clothing which also protects you properly from the weather will not just make you feel more comfortable, it will also allow you to focus more on your riding.

Make sure your visor is not dirty or scratched and remember not to wear a tinted visor or goggles at night.

Professional Riders

If you are a professional rider, check out your industry's Code of Practice. The Despatch Association's Courier Code applies to despatch riders and the Pizza and Pasta Association has its own code for home delivery operators. The Government recognises and supports both.

Talk to your employer about getting the right motorcycle training. If your employer can't help find out for yourself.

IT'S YOUR LIFE

TAKE CONROL: GIVE YOUR MACHINE THE SKILLS IT DESERVES

IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE

Every year bikes get faster, more complex and more expensive. Every year the roads get more crowded with boy racers, white van men and lane-hogging trucks. Every year you need to be sharper, more aware, at the top of your game every time you pull on your leathers and hit the starter button. Unfortunately every year most of us get a bit lazier, a bit more complacent and our skills get rustier. Instinct and quick reactions on their own aren't enough - the road is dangerous... You need to THINK!

It doesn't matter if you've been riding for years or if you've just come back to biking - what you need is up to date bike handling skills, inside information and a head stuffed with riding know-how. Get that lot from somewhere and you'll ride safer AND get more out of your bike.

But I'm already a good rider - it's other road users who cause the problems

Oh really? Does any of this sound familiar?

I often find that corners suddenly tighten up on me.
I sometimes find I only just get away with overtaking manoeuvres.
When I ride with my mates, I seem to have to thrash my bike to keep up, although I know they're not going any quicker than I usually do when I ride on my own.
People are always pulling out on me and forcing me to take avoiding action.
I'm not sure how to set my suspension up for the kind of riding I do.
I worry about how secure my bike is, even when it's locked up.
As soon as it rains all my confidence disappears.

A different approach

They're all common complaints, and its easy to blame most of them on outside influences. In fact they're mostly problems that can be solved with a different approach.

For example, corners don't suddenly tighten up - if it's tighter than you thought it's because you didn't THINK! and pick up the clues early enough to assess what was coming up.

Similarly, when people pull out in front of you it's often not because they haven't seen you, but because you were going a lot faster than they expected - the average car driver has no conception whatsoever of the performance of a modern bike.

Putting the emphasis on yourself to avoid trouble rather than on others to avoid you is the first step towards getting more out of your bike, and keeping it shiny side up. The second step is improving your riding skills.

Learning curves

So you need to learn, and there are three ways to get the skills you need to control today's bikes on today's roads.

You can learn from your mistakes. But every mistake hurts. Life's too short, and likely to get even shorter if you take this option.
You can learn from your mates. But how good are they anyway? How do you choose what's good and bad advice?
Or you could learn from an expert. Someone who spends all day every day in the saddle, who knows every trick in the book AND who knows how to pass that knowledge on to others. You might even end up with discounts on insurance, clothing and accessories.

Ok, so what do I do about it?

Before deciding on a training course, it's worth finding out just where you're at and what you need to know, and there are plenty of organisations that can help. Assessments are carried out by professional riders who know how to analyse your riding and come up with a programme that's right for you - no point learning how to get your knee down on a track day if you're a died in the wool two-up tourer, and vice versa.

What next?

Once you've been assessed, you'll have a better idea of which areas of your riding will need working on. You can then focus on finding the course that's right for you.

For most people the bare minimum is a refresher on road positioning, planning ahead and what to do if someone you're riding with has an accident. However, there's always plenty more to learn, and look at it this way - you may be going back to school but the homework's going to be superb!

But how much does it cost?

How long's a piece of string? A couple of one hour sessions could cost you less than a tank of fuel, or a residential course over several days could run into hundreds. Whatever level you go for, it'll be the most cost-effective way of spending your biking pound this side of renting a time machine to get next week's roll-over lottery numbers.

Every year you need to be sharper, more aware, at the top of your game every time you pull on your leathers and hit the starter button.

Menu