Ride to arrive
A motorcyclist is one of the most vulnerable road users there are no seatbelts, airbags or side impact bars to protect them. Both riders and drivers can make motorcycling safer by following the safety tips below.
Advice for motorcyclists
The key thing that will help keep you safe is your attitude. If your safety is the most important thing to you it will influence your attitude on every ride and the way you perceive and deal with any hazards on the road.
- expect the unexpected
- adjust your speed - give yourself time to react
- take extra care when filtering through traffic as drivers may not always be aware of you
- remember that drivers have difficulty judging the speed of your bike
- leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front
- plan ahead when approaching junctions
- be aware of vehicles approaching from a side road
- be prepared to stop and take evasive action
- a driver emerging from a junction cannot give way to you if you cannot be seen, remember you can easily be hidden from their view by a tree, telegraph pole, lamp post etc
- in urban areas look out for vehicles emerging from driveways
- ensure your speed is appropriate to negotiate a bend without losing control
- make sure you remember to anticipate hazards which may be concealed by a bend - make sure your speed enables you to be able to stop in time to avoid them
- ride for the road conditions – remember to adjust your speed.
Group riding can be an easy way improve your riding experience, however this increases your chance of having a crash. Follow the safety tips below:
- limit the group to two or three riders
- plan you route
- make sure everyone knows the route and is not under pressure to keep up with the group
- schedule in safe stopping places so that if anyone gets lost they know where to meet up
- make sure everyone has each others mobile numbers
- have a lead biker ride in front
- have a sweeper to ride at the back – to keep a look out for breakdowns or people who have lost the group
- all agree on the rules of the ride – no overtaking each other – no speeding
- agree to a maximum speed – this can be lower than the national speed limit
- keep a safe distance from other riders
- if anyone breaks the rules - drop back - do not feel pressured into keeping up with them.
Be a Better Biker
You may be interested in attending a ‘Be a Better Biker’ training day.
"Be a Better Biker" is an award winning training programme that runs within the Thames Valley area and provides advanced motorcycle training.
The course comprises of a two hour classroom session, followed by three hours on road assessment and runs from 9am to 3pm.
Oxfordshire County Council Fire & Rescue’s Road Safety Team subsidise each Oxfordshire participant who attends the course, this reduces the cost of the course to just £50 for the day.
The 2012 dates for Oxfordshire are:
Saturday 2 June - Didcot - Saturday 14 July – Banbury
- Saturday 22 September – Abingdon
- Saturday 20 October - Witney
For further information about or to book the “Be a Better Biker” training programme visit www.beabetterbiker.co.uk
Advice for drivers
Motorcyclists can be difficult to spot on the roads, it is not easy to judge their speed and they can be hidden from view behind a tree, lamp post, telegraph pole or bend.
- be extra vigilant for motorcyclists
- regularly check your mirrors for motorcyclists
- check and check again for bikes at junctions
- wait until the biker has passed before pulling out - research shows that drivers experience difficulty in judging a motorcyclists speed – wait until the biker has passed
- when pulling out it is worth waiting a couple of extra seconds - just to make sure a motorcycle isn't hidden from your view - motorcycles are narrow vehicles which can be easily hidden from view by lamp posts, telegraph poles
- check for bikes when changing lanes - especially when changing lanes in slow moving traffic as a motorcyclists will filter through the traffic
- when turning always check for motorcyclists – remember they may pass you on either side
- leave plenty of room between you and a motorcycle.
