Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Motorcycle safety stats and Risky roads

[Iconic944ss]

Very interesting document so I thought I'd show the link here, made me think when I saw the statement:

'in general, Britain’s road design is not sufficiently forgiving to vulnerable twowheelers.
With motorcyclists alone representing 1 in 6 road deaths in Britain, motorcyclists’ safety needs proactive attention. Motorists must “think bike”, but so too must road engineers'

http://www.eurorap.org/pdf/EuroRAP_UK_2004_results.pdf

Frank

[MARTIN H]

Very interesting reading, As usual the road I use a lot up to Long Preston features very high up. As does the A59 around Skipton. Have to use one or the other to get to where I like to ride.

[weeian]

nice 1 frank, quite an interesting little read.

/ian

[TonyH]

Interesting read, I was quite alarmed about how many of the North Wests roads appeared on the list (Apart from the 'Cat and Fiddle'), most of which I use on a regular basis.

[yorkie]

44% of fatal motorcycling accidents occur at junctions!! ............................. 'Sorry mate i just didnt see you!'

Yorkie.

[Iconic944ss]

Some of it is depressing reading I must say.

I've never seen a map like that before showing the high risk roads - good idea.

Cheers - Frank

[andyb]

Originally posted by yorkie
44% of fatal motorcycling accidents occur at junctions!! ............................. 'Sorry mate i just didnt see you!'

Yorkie.

Who didnt see who?

The car driver pulling out in front of the motorcyclist........or the motorcyclist not planning for the hazard of the junction?

[Iconic944ss]

Good point, easy for us to assume that its a car pulling out in front of us but, equally the motorcyclist could be at fault.

However, given the difficultly of seeing a bike at the best of times and the lack of appreciation drivers are given about motorcyclists, I have a feeling the car drivers are mostly at fault.

Given that most of the accidents appeared to be in rural locations, I'm never stopping at a junction in the country side ever again

(Sorry - I felt some humour was needed).

Cheers - Frank

[Edited on 11-1-2006 by Iconic944ss]

[andyb]

Frank, my point would be that the only person you can rely on is ourselves.

You have to assume everyone else is blind and dangerous.

Its no good barrelling through a hazard just because you have right of way.........i can assure us all it does hurt!

I would say virtually every problem associated with good riding practice can be brought back to poor planning.

[Iconic944ss]

Dont worry Andy - I fully appreciate the point you made - the stats are proof enough that more and more motorcycle accidents 'appear' to be due to poor planning or excessive speed.

Anecdote:

As a quite young starting motorcycle instructor I often used to be given more youthful pupils to be trained (this is obviously many years ago!) - one 'trick' I was taught to gain their attention was to start by asking them how they would ride everyday if they thought nobody could see them on the road.....

There were usually a few responses about being cautious.

Then I used to ask how they would ride if every other single road user could see them but didnt care and would actually crash into them so could get on with their business !!!

It tended to wake people up a little bit.

Ride safe - Frank