The motorcycle riding season is in full swing and the emergency services across the country annual deal with a spike in motorcycle crashes with the oncoming of spring and with that the associated injuries or fatalities.
However, when the sun gets higher in the sky and the temperatures start to rise, therein creates another rise in statistics too. All over the country this last weekend there have been numerous incidents both on and off the road which has claimed the lives of many more victims.
In the main stream news you will hear of London stabbings and victims of crime…,quite rightly so. However what is reported less these days, unless it is a rather slow news day, is the numbers of motorcycle and scooter riders that continue to have crashes all over the UK.
In my area there were multiple crashes just over the weekend with two fatalities and many more injured. All individual incidents but the statistics do not lie and loved ones will not be consoled with the fact that temperatures are starting to plateaux to cooler temps now.
As I rode into work on Saturday morning, I too noticed a big number of motorcycles on the road, and it is this reason alone that begets higher figures. More bikes on the road means more chances to have crashes and injuries.
The sunny dry weather should be that rallying call for all bikers to hit the road but it should also be wrapped with a warning to be extra vigilant of the riding environment and of other road users too. It should also be a warning that just because the sun is shining it should not mean that riders should become less observant, anticipate less and push the riding envelope to the outer limits of their skills and experience levels.
Whilst it is easy to blame the other road users for tragic events that occur to motorcyclists, the riders themselves also must take responsibility for their own actions too. As riders we are also part of the accident equation and anything we can do to avoid the accident in the first instance must be considered of primary importance.
So whenever riders decide to get out on those sunny weekends, be sure to keep your heads on straight and never let your guard down or lose your focus on what may be a hazard, how to avoid it and how to react as one develops around you.
Regardless of where you’re riding in the world, rider safety is something we should all rate as number one in our riding experience. We don’t have to be puritanical about it, nor do we need to believe in falsehoods and myths about what will keep us safe and injury free, however we must do the simple things better, give ourselves extra time and space to deal with issues and ride at speeds that are suitable for the road, conditions, traffic density, time of day and that are well within our riding talents and physical and mental limitations.
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