Safer Riding / Rider Safety

However long you've been riding motorcycles, whatever your experience or whatever level of professional training you've already undergone, one thing's for sure.........anyone who says they "know it all......." is deluding themselves or lying! And that might just be the least of their problems!! ;-)
There's always more to learn about handling a motorcycle and staying safe whilst doing so.....we all know the risks and dangers involved with riding bikes and ultimately our safety on the roads is down to us!

Please let me know if you have any recommendations for additions to this page and feel free to let me have any comments from your own experiences.

Rider Training and Advanced Rider Training

Track Based Training, Bike Handling Courses etc

Track Days - Information and Advice

Counter Steering

Riding in groups

Research
'Wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing and white or light coloured helmets and using headlights in daytime could reduce serious injuries or death from motorcycle crashes by up to one third'... New research from New Zealand indicates that riders wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing reduce the risk of crash-related injury by 37%. Compared with a black helmet, use of a white helmet was associated with a 24% lower risk. Light coloured helmets versus dark was associated with a 19% lower risk. And finally, use of headlights during the day was associated with a 27% lower risk *1 (As with most studies flaws in the research were highlighted, including that elements of these figures could be explained by the fact riders wearing high visibility clothing and white helmets are likely to be more safety conscious than other riders).

Note that past studies into the use of daytime lights have proved inconclusive. If you are interested in reading one of the most recent studies into the use of daytime lights then click here to read the Perlot and Prower 2003 report.

Statistics
Motorcyclists make up less than 1% of road traffic but account for 14% of deaths and serious injuries2 / are 8 times more likely than a car driver to be involved in an injury accident, 20 times more likely to be injured themselves and 35 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured3 / 583 motorcyclists (includes scooters and mopeds) died in road accidents in 2001, 7305 were killed or seriously injured...*4

Accident Causes in Greater London*5

Accident Cause	Proportion of RTAs
Driving too close to the vehicle in front	14.45%
Driver disobeying 'Stop' or 'Give Way' signs or road markings	11.63%
Pedestrian crossing over the road heedless of traffic	10.55%
Driver turning right without due care	7.67%
Driver swerving or braking to avoid an accident	4.07%
Pedestrian crossing over road masked by parked vehicles	3.32%

SAFETY ADVICE

Clothing and equipment

Your clothing should be:

brightly coloured or fluorescent by day / reflective by night Always assume that drivers and pedestrians have NOT seen you, ride DEFENSIVELY
comfortable to wear (to allow you to fully concentrate on your riding)
suitable for the current climatic conditions (not too hot or cold)

and should:

offer you protection during a fall from your bike

Only buy approved helmets which are certified to British standards

Don't forget to wear sturdy footwear with adequate grip for when you are static

Riding safely

Always ride defensively, assume that drivers and pedestrians have NOT seen you, keep your speed appropriate to the conditions (wet / uneven or loose road surface) and try to anticipate peoples' actions.
Keep checking your mirrors, be aware of your surroundings especially at junctions and roundabouts.
Be aware of road hazards, such as manhole covers, road markings and diesel spillages, which may be slippery in certain conditions, or which may be proud of the surrounding road surface. Loose grit on the outside edges of bends will also reduce tyre grip and may result in a slide. Try to avoid ridges and furrows which may cause your bike to follow an unwanted line.

Take up a good road position (normally in the middle of your side of the road), where other motorists will be able to see you and from where you will be able to execute safe manoeuvres. This also means that you stay away from the loose dirt, excess water etc which is normally found at the edge of roads, and furthermore, being in the centre of your side of the road means that car drivers are forced to wait until they have a proper gap before overtaking (less chance of them cutting you up too).

Only overtake when you know the road is clear ahead and after considering all other potential hazards.
Always do a 'lifesaver glance' before executing any manoeuvre.

References (Some Crown Copyright)

*1 British Medical Journal 10 April 2004 - Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study by Susan Wells et al.

*2 Department of Transport - Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone

*3 Grayson and Lester - Behavioural Research in Road Safety

*4 Department for Transport - Transport Statistics 2002: Road accident casualties: by road and severity 1991-2001: Section 4

*5 The Metropolitan Police Service, Traffic Division Accident Causation Figures 1996

(Compiled from the Department of Transport Accident Record Form STATS 19)

Rider Training and Advanced Rider Training

www.iam.org
The aims and objectives of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (the IAM) are very simple:-

To improve the standard of driving (and riding) on the UK roads.
The Advancement of Road Safety.
The Administration of an Advanced Test.

Training available through local groups, you'll be assigned an 'observer' for one to one rideouts....as many as you need or want, to achieve the IAM test standard of riding. Very cost effective means of improving your riding skills, great group rideouts and social events.

My local IAM group: www.cvam.info

www.rospa.com
RoSPA's Road Safety Department raises awareness about the causes of road accidents and promotes measures to help prevent them or reduce their severity. The Department provides information, education, training and publicity resources and services for road users and road safety professionals.

Advanced training is available through accredited trainers for motorcyclists with 'awards' to three levels (bronze, silver, gold). The bronze award is more or less the equivalent of achieving the IAM standard of riding skills.

Track Based Training, Bike Handling Courses etc

To come

Counter Steering

Whether you know it or not......you're doing it already
Understand the principle and learn to apply it at will and it could be a life saver!

Counter steering is happening whether you realize it or not.

Whether you consciously point the wheel right to make the bike fall to the left, or you subconsciously do whatever it takes to make the bike go left, that big old gyroscope in front is having input on one direction and responding at a 90 degree angle to that input (that's what gyros do when you dump force into them).

Countersteering in normal riding is very subtle. Most motorcyclists do not even understand that they are doing it. They are just doing whatever it takes to turn the thing. Most motorcyclists don't know what countersteering is, many even think it is a hoax. Learn more..............

www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9912_rss/

www.popularmechanics.com/aut...es/1268501.html

www.ommriders.com/read-ride/...tersteering.htm

www.msgroup.org/TIP048.html

............or try some Google searches.

Recommended Reading

	Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook Publisher: The Stationery Office Books ISBN: 011341143X Quote from Bish: Read, learn and inwardly digest. The information in this book has kept me alive and on my bike. An invaluable reference.
	The The UK Highway Code is now also available online (always worth refreshing your memory ;-) www.highwaycode.gov.uk www.highwaycode.gov.uk/motorcyclists.shtml
	Total Control; High Performance Street Riding Techniques, by Lee Parks
	A Twist of the Wrist: Basics of High-performance Motor Cycle Riding -- Keith Code (Paperback - Code Break Books - 1 July, 1997)
Two great articles by BY NICK IENATSCH - Read it, Learn it, Live it! The Pace Pace Yourself

Links and Information

www.bikertagz.com

www.bikertagz.com

These Tagz are not unlike the 'Dog' tags worn by the personnel of some armed forces. They contain crucial information that may help emergency services in case of an accident.

Apparently some Track Day organisers are now insisting that participants wear some form of identification (Dog Tags) suggesting that this will assist the medical teams and Marshals in the event of an accident.

For the street I think this is a great idea that may even save lives...follow the link above for more information.

Motorcyclists / Bike First Aid
Medical Kit

Carry On The Bike Motorcyclist First Aid Kits
At last a first aid kit with its contents produced by motorcycle paramedics especially for motorcyclists in the event of an accident whilst out riding.

Contents:
Guidance Leaflet
Sterile Adhesive Airstrip Dressing 6.3 x 2.2cm
Calico Triangular Bandage
Sterile Eye Dressing 8 x 5cms
Sterile Large Dressing 18 x 18cms
Laerdal Faceshield
Safety Pins
Medium Latex Gloves (Pair)
Sterile 0.9% Saline Solution - 20ml
Medi Fresh Alcohol Free Wipes (2)
Splinter Forceps - Martins
Dressing Scissors
Foil Blanket
Cool Gel Sachet

ORDERLINE 01689 856971

BUY SECURELY ONLINE

Bike Safe	ww.bikesafe.co.uk
BikeSafe (www.bikesafe.co.uk) is an initiative run by Police Forces around the United Kingdom who work with the whole of the biking world to help to lower the number of motorcycle rider casualties. By passing on their knowledge, skills and experience, police motorcyclists can help you become a safer more competent rider. They help you to increase your ability and confidence, so you can get even more enjoyment from riding your motorcycle. ROADSAFE BACKS BIKESAFE This popular and successful initiative has now received enthusiastic backing from Roadsafe – Roadsafe is a road safety partnership of leading companies in the automotive and transport industries in Britain, the Government and road safety professionals. It’s objective is to reduce deaths and injuries caused on the road and promote safer road use. Roadsafe is chaired by Steve Norris and is linked to the Prince Michael Road Safety Awards Scheme.

Thames Valley Police	Safer Rider
The Thames Valley Roads Policing department is committed to making the roads safer for everyone who uses them. Safer Rider aims to keep motorcyclists safe on the roads with valuable information about how to steer clear from danger. In the last year, 300 motorcyclists were seriously injured and 37 lost their lives on the roads in the Thames Valley. The death toll rises each year. As a motorcyclist you make up less than one percent of the traffic, but account for over 20 percent of road deaths. To make sure you don’t become a statistic, read on: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/safer-rider/ Safer Rider is written by PC Graham Owen, a roads policing officer and keen biker. Comments (Bish 07/2004): www.thamesvalley.police.uk/safer-rider is a very well put together site, with some really good information. It is aimed at educating riders to be more aware of their surroundings, road conditions and the riders own ability to deal with the ever changing situation on our roads. The information is presented in sections, delivered in much the same way as in Motorcycle Roadcraft:

www.mcia.co.uk

MCIA - Motorcycle Safety Department

The Department was set up at the end of 2002 to drive the MCI safety agenda and provide a focal point within the industry for safety related matters.

The department has quickly become involved at senior levels with the Dept. of Transport (DfT), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and more.

www.rmd.dft.gov.uk

"Motorcyclists are the most at risk category of road user to fatal or serious injury. In 1998 motorcyclists were involved in 6 times more injury accidents per 100 million kilometres than cars. Against this background it is important for the Department to investigate measures to reduce the risk by ensuring the new machines are safe and that machines in use are well maintained and serviceable."
Current projects (couple here you may have thought had been dropped!):
Airbag Restraint for Motorcycles / Construction Standards of Go-Peds and Similiar Vehicles / Leg Protection for Motorcyclists / Motorcycle Unofficial Import Standards / Motorcyclists Helmets and Visors: Test Methods and New Technologies / Protective Helmets: Motorcycle, Pedalcycle and Human Head Tolerance / Review of OECD Motorcycle Accident Data Collection

www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/motorcycles/motorcycles.htm

www.killspills.org.uk
The Road Users Campaign To Kill Diesel Spills

Well worth a visit....please support their campaigns!

www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com

Lots of interesting articles and information

www.handleitorloseit.com

Quote from BMF: "So have a look at the new Handle It or Lose it website. Lots of useful tips, lots of information still to come and even maps, (supported by local authorities), giving the location of every safety camera so that you know the danger spots in advance.

This is a new, refreshing way of looking at bike casualty reduction. It s a new initiative, it s a new concept and the BMF wants it to succeed. "

Some of the content/approach is pretty off the wall stuff somewhat light-hearted and provocative but maybe that's what's needed to get the attention of some riders, certainly a 'fun' element added to otherwise serious subjects. Worth checking out.

Emergency Helmet Removal Systems for motorcycle, motorsports and all other safety helmets.

HATS OFF offers a unique, low tech, low cost solution to the problem of safe emergency helmet removal. This device can be used in safety helmets for any sport or leisure activity.

The Helmet Kit takes just a few moments to fit into the helmet and the wearer is unaware of its presence.

The Hats Off Technique is now becoming widely accepted by Registered Paramedics and Basic Doctors (who provide high quality life support at the scenes of accidents) as the preferred method of emergency helmet removal. The device is being used by both race track, and air/road ambulance rescue crews.

For more info visit: http://www.hatsoff.info/

Sundowner Anti Glare Visor Strips
A very simple solution to an never-ending problem. Bright sunlight, dawn to dusk are the times of day that the motorcyclist finds the most difficult to ride through, when the sun's glare is invariably most intense.

Anti Glare Transparent Visor Strip - Universal for all helmets.
Clings to the inside or outside of the visor. Easily repositioned, simply peel and re-apply. Can be fitted when needed and removed easily.

More info/order here: www.motorcycle-uk.com/shop.html

SUNAX^® - the first and only universal Sunshield for your helmet!
www.sunax.de

"Whether you choose sunglasses or a tinted visor, you always have to wear them directly in front of your eyes. Following our company vision "for the safest way to ride" we introduce to you the first sunshield that stays out of your face: Carrying your head in a normal, upright position, you wear SUNAX® above the eyebrows and the view on the road is always undisturbed!"

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