Castlebar - County Mayo - Rusty Bikers and Rusty Drivers = Disaster

From Castlebar - County Mayo -

General
Rusty Bikers and Rusty Drivers = Disaster
By Noel Gibbo
20, Feb 2010 - 11:22

As the days get longer and the weather improves, people will be bringing their motorcycles out of winter hibernation for the daily commute to work or a leisurely spin.

The roadsafety Officer with Mayo County Council Mr Noel Gibbons warned motorists to look out for motorcycles coming back on the roads after a winter in hibernation. Most motorbikes will be back on the road over the next few weeks, and according to the AA, insurance claims relating to motorcycles increase 40% at this time of year.

Many bikers are ‘rusty' having not ridden all winter, Mr Noel Gibbons said, whilst drivers had got used to seeing fewer bikes. "At this time of year the big danger to bikers is ‘road rust' among drivers who have lost the habit of looking out for bikes".

The image that will be used in a countywide campaign to highlight the importance of good motorcycle clothing and the value of motorcycle training.

Bikes can be repaired or replaced, but bikers cannot.

Four in five motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle are not the biker's fault, whilst drivers distracted by rush hour traffic or the school run are disproportionately responsible for hitting motorcyclists.

Motorbike riders are being encouraged to refresh their road handling skills and stay safe by enrolling on an advanced biking course.

The Star rider Motorcycling course is run by Mayo County Council and taught by qualified instructors. It has been designed to help motorcyclists polish up their riding techniques and prepare for the advanced riding test.

Mr Michael Flynn ROSPA Dip instructor said "Motorbikes are fun to ride and a great way of beating traffic, but riding safely demands high levels of control and concentration. Motorcyclists can be extremely vulnerable road users. Taking advanced training, particularly if it's been a while since you passed your test, both helps ensure your riding is safe and enjoyable and enables you to acquire essential road skills that could mean the difference between life and death."

Noel Gibbons road safety officer Mayo County Council said "This is about highlighting the hideous number of casualties on the roads among the motorcycle community and this initiative is about getting people to think what they can do to prevent such injuries and possibly death "

70% of motorcyclists killed from 1997 to 2006 were male aged 17-34
In fact over half (57%) of motorcycle deaths occur between May and September. When the weather is warm, it's tempting to wear jeans and a t-shirt when you're biking. But by not wearing proper gear, you risk horrific injuries if you come off the bike.
65% of motorcyclists are killed outside built-up areas, whereas only 25% of motorcyclists are injured here. Therefore motorcyclists are more likely to be killed on open roads outside built-up areas. This suggests that more serious crashes occur on open roads where high-speed and more powerful larger bikes are contributory factors.
75% of motorcyclists are injured inside built-up areas. Motorcyclists are more likely to be injured in towns and cities. In such situations another vehicle will most likely be involved in the collision.
The 25 to 34 years age group accounted for the highest number of motorcycle casualties (28%) and fatalities (34%) in the eight year period 1996 to 2003. This is the motorcycle age group most at risk on our roads.
A ‘Single Vehicle Only' collision was cited as the primary collision factor in 42% of fatal motorcycle crashes in the eight year period 1996 to 2003. This type of collision is not so significant a factor in injury crashes.
11% of motorcycle users killed or injured in collisions between 1996 and 2001 were not wearing a crash helmet.