IN July this year I joined a club that, statistically, has a far greater chance of dying on ours road than almost every other group of road users.
I joined the ranks of WA motorbike riders. A group that has seen 31 of its members die this year on WA roads alone.
It’s a sobering thought.
As an older bike rider who grew up on dirt bikes, I spent my two-wheeled apprenticeship exploring bush tracks in the Goldfields. Potential risks were the last things from our mind. We spent afternoons with mates in the red dust outside Laverton lapping up the freedom only a bike can bring.
I felt safe. Back then there were less road users. The bikes were slower and my skills and reflexes far better. We were far away from the perils of city roads and winding regional highways – the places which claim the lives of so many bike riders.
But I gave it away 25 years ago, selling my dirt bike and retreating to four-wheeled safety. That was until earlier this year, when I picked up a magnificent older Honda Shadow cruiser from a mate who decided to hang up his helmet.
It’s been 25 years since I’ve been on a bike. Given the current appalling record of bike carnage on our roads this year, I’m not ashamed to admit a feeling of trepidation in jumping back in the saddle.
According to police stats, motorcycles are over-represented in fatal and serious crashes in WA, making up 15.9 per cent of the total. This is despite bikes accounting for only 5 per cent of total vehicles.
The experts agree that people such as me are over-represented in the crash statistics. Men rekindling their youth on two wheels. Living on memories. Blissfully unaware of the dangers modern traffic conditions and bikes can present.
So I took the plunge and took some fresh lessons. It’s a decision that could well save my life, according to Bunbury Motorcycle School instructor Drew Gleadell.
“A lot of men still have the 20-year-old mindset and the memory of when they used to ride,” Mr Gleadell told the Bunbury Mail last week.
“But their reflexes are not what they used to be and their body doesn’t allow them the same control.”
Mr Gleadell is advocating refresher training for all bike riders looking to get back into the saddle.
It’s a viewpoint echoed by many experienced bike riders, including Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan who has been riding motorbikes for 38 years.
Mr O’Callaghan is passionate about motorcycle safety. Not only as our top cop who has seen his share of two-wheeled carnage first hand, but also as a concerned parent. He has three sons who ride motorbikes.
In a recent column decided to share his wisdom and top bike safety tips. He uses the acronym SAVED to help riders remember the key aspects of safe riding.
It’s great advice to new (and older) bikers. I’m sure he won’t mind me sharing it with you:
You learnt it for your test, so do not lose the skill of doing it. Keep checking your mirrors every five to 10 seconds, every side of the road you pass and both ways at every intersection. The fact that you have right of way does not guarantee that other drivers are paying attention.
Scan the behaviour of drivers around you. If they are talking on a mobile phone, yelling at the kids or rocking to a 500-watt subwoofer the chances are they are not aware that you exist. Stay well clear of “multi-tasking” drivers and certainly be wary of their rear quarter panel blind spot.
Make sure you also scan the road surface in front of you. Chunks of debris, rocks, lost loads and shredded tyres are unkind to riders. You will also notice that the ce3ntre of the lane or road you are travelling on is often darker than the rest of the road surface, caused by oil, diesel and fuel. Ride slightly to the right of these areas which are treacherous when wet.
Many motorcyclists get seriously injured by cars turning right in front of them at intersections or get shunted by the car behind. Do not accelerate towards an intersection and above all, do not run amber lights. Car drivers are notoriously bad at judging the speed of motorbikes and they will turn in front of you.
Keep an eye on that vehicle behind you as well and use your brakes early to flash a warning. Also be wary of emerging from the kerbside lane into an intersection when cars are waiting to turn right in the centre lane. Cars turning right in the opposite direction cannot see you.
Anticipate light changes, anticipate turning drivers, anticipate following drivers and anticipate serial and sudden lane changers.
During the American Revolution at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 Colonel Prestcott is alleged to have said “don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes”. Getting a visual of other drivers on the road gives peace of mind for motorcyclists.
Although it is not possible in all circumstances, if you can see their eyes at least you have established that they have seen you. It is remarkable just how often that split-second eye contact gives reassurance to both rider and driver.
Look for that recognition and don’t forget to smile.
Planning an escape route simply means not allowing yourself to get in a situation where you cannot avoid a crash. Make sure you know where there are spaces each side of you that you can safely move to in case another vehicle, pedestrian or anything else moves suddenly into your path.
Braking may not be enough and any evasive movement has to be planned.
Riding in the right hand part of your lane generally gives a better view of the road ahead and allows you to constantly recalculate safe escape paths.
Part of planning your escape route means maintaining a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. Most riding advice suggests staying three seconds behind the vehicle in front. It is a very large distance but let me tell you there will be many times that you will give praise for maintaining that distance. At60km/h that is about 50m. Based on the average length of a car, that is about 10 car lengths. In slower traffic at, perhaps 40km/h three seconds equates to about 30m or six car lengths.
In practice, drivers will cut in between you and the car in front at the distances. Most have no idea of the challenges of riding a motorbike. Be patient and maintain the recommended distance by falling back when this happens.
Happy and safe riding.
