Safety Tips

One of the safety tips on the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s (ICBC) website advises riders to read vehicle language and “never rely on other road users’ judgment or assume they’ll respect your right of way.”  In Let’s Ride, Sonny Barger offers up similar advice, but in his own words:

“When riding on public highways, I recommend adopting the attitude that every single person on the road is a sociopathic serial killer who has just escaped from an asylum for the criminally insane. This might seem a little pessimistic, but you’ll live longer if you assume everyone else on the road is a homicidal moron whose sole purpose is to kill you.”

Some of the most common high risk driving behaviours of other motorists when resulting in a collision with a motorcycle involving injury or death are fail to yield, ignoring traffic-control devices, following too closely, speeding and improper passing. Other adverse behaviours include improper turning, driver error, distraction, fatigue and drug/alcohol impairment.

Collisions involving contributing factors assigned to motorcycle drivers in British Columbia are speeding, driver inattentiveness, driver error and alcohol. Other factors contributing to collisions include weather, roadside hazard/debris/surface defects, improper passing, following too close, failing to yield, driving on wrong side of road, defective tires, sunlight glare, improper turning, ignoring traffic control and cutting in.

Although there were over 200,000 British Columbians licensed to drive a motorcycle in 2011, there were only 98, 000 policies or insured motorcycles. According to ICBC injury claims and police reports, there were 1,500 motorcycle collisions involving injury. That’s less than 2% (1,500/98,000). The injury rate for other drivers is also about 2%. The fatality rate for motorcyclists, however, is at least 4 times greater than other drivers and injuries can be more severe.  Some common types of injuries are:

Knee/lower leg/foot, elbow/lower arm/hand, shoulder/upper arm, hip/upper leg/pelvis, back and neck. Many fatalities involved severe injuries (massive trauma) to the head, entire body or chest. Other injuries identified in these reports include fractures, bleeding, amputation, abrasion, burns, lacerations, concussion, dislocation, whiplash and bruises.

What these statistics from insurance claim and police reports really reveal is the importance of protective clothing and defensive driving in minimizing the risk of death and injury to the rider. They help to identify and measure the risks of riding a motorcycle which then allows us to take steps to control the risks. With that in mind, here are some risk management tips of my own:

1.    Drive rested and sober

2.    Be attentive

3.    Be patient and courteous

4.    Obey the speed limit

5.    Obey traffic signs

6.    Check your tires and inspect your bike before each ride

7.    Dress appropriately

8.    Give yourself a space buffer and try to maintain it

9.    Pass or change lanes when safe and necessary

10. Check before entering an intersection

11. Turn properly, left or right

12. Beware of hidden driveways and parked cars about to pull out

13. Take extra caution during certain higher risk conditions

14. Take time to practice and improve your skills

15. Learn some basic First Aid and carry a cell phone

It also bears repeating Sonny Barger’s sage advice: you’ll live longer if you assume everyone else on the road is a homicidal moron whose sole purpose is to kill you!