Attentiveness Key To Reducing Motorcycle Crashes
Prince George, BC – The President of the Association of Injured Motorcycle Riders, Northern BC Chapter says driver attentiveness is the key to reducing motorcycle accidents, more so than regulation changes. And that’s attentiveness on the part of drivers who are inside their vehicles.
New regulations regarding helmets and passengers went into effect for motorcycle drivers in BC yesterday. And while Darryl Laing is applauding the rules which effectively ban small children from riding passenger, he says the majority of accidents involving motorcycles in BC are the result of car and truck drivers making a rapid lane change and missing the motorcycle in a blind spot, or a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle.
"The most common excuse you hear when a car and a motorcycle collide is, ‘I didn’t see them,’" says Laing, "They (the vehicle drivers) weren’t looking, they were distracted, weren’t paying attention."
"Out of all the crashes that I’ve dealt with, probably about 90-percent of them have been a left-hand turn out of a parking lot or at an intersection," he says. "We just had one here a couple of weeks ago at First and Ospika – same thing, a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle." Fortunately, Laing says, the rider and passenger received only minor injuries, while the motorcycle was considered a write-off.
AIM assists motorcyclists in the wake of an accident by providing access to resources, information, and support groups. Laing believes the best way to save lives and prevent injury is by educating the general public, both riders and non-riders alike, and really encouraging people to pay more attention when they’re behind the wheel.
"Both eyes on the road, hang up the phone, look twice and save a life," he says. "Our streets, especially here in Prince George are pretty hazardous to navigate these days with the potholes and then you’ve got distracted drivers on top of that – whether you’re on a motorcycle or in a car, it doesn’t matter, everybody just pay attention to what you’re doing and you’ll get to where you’re going."
Comments
Headlight modulators help get the attention of 4 wheel vehicle operators in most cases. I know for a fact because I ride a motorcycle, and have yet to have someone pull out on me since I installed it on my Gold Wing approximately 12+ years ago.
If everyone paid a little more attention, car drivers and motorcyclists included, there would be far fewer accidents.
Anything you can use to draw attention to yourself (in a positive way) is a good thing . I think the key to safety on the roads is education not legislation . Enforce the laws that are in effect , and educate those who do not know or understand. In some states if you have so many driving offences you are required to go to traffic school . Maybe that is not such a bad idea .
As a rider, we must be watching every vehicle like a hawk. You never know when someone will change lanes or pull out. No different than in a car. Always assume they cannot see you and drive accordingly.
I do not cross an intersection without still checking both ways, especially on a green light. So many people are still on their cell phones or worse, texting while they are driving. They are just an accident waiting to happen.
On a bike, you don’t have many options except take a tumble. The odds of getting hurt are so much higher on a motorcycle.
I for one am getting tired of all the whining by motorcycle riders especially it seems blaming everone else for their accidents and ignoring the dumb ass things riders do. Maybe this blame game is meant as a deflection of blame.
If it is that bad out there maybe bikes should be banned from public roads same as ATV’s. Question if motorbikes are allowed on roads, why not ATV’s with the proper lights? Makes me wonder.
First, existing laws are all that’s necessary. You are suppose to stop at stop signs, look then go. All of us, including bikes, roll through stop signs, glance, then stop if we have to. Sometimes a glance isn’t enough to spot a bike, especially if it’s travelling 40 k over the posted limit, or is blending in with a large truck behind it.
Turning left in front of a bike. Most people turning left are glancing into on-coming traffic, and then the light to make sure it hasn’t turned yellow. Bikes blend into the traffic behind them. Bright clothing, highbeams, modulating headlights would help.
Motorcycling is transportation that is also recreation. Few people ride bikes as a mode of transporation only. We do it because it’s fun. I will ride all the way to the lower mainland on a bike, go through rain, and arrive there tired but happy. A car, I arrive tired and bored.
So, as a rider, I accept what I do has higher risks, in exchange for the recreation it gives me. Just like I accept skiing is more dangerous than ice skating, but it’s more fun for me, so I accept the risks.
So as a rider, I also do what I can to reduce the risks. Visable gear, headlights on, side to side weaving when approaching vehicles at side roads in order to make myself more visable. Obeying speed limits, because when someone does something stupid, being within the speed limit makes it much easier to avoid, or survive.
Probably the one big beef I’ve got with cars, is I stick close to the speed limit, and when I do, some of you like to keep close to the rear end of my bike. If I pick up speed to open the safety gap, the RCMP give me a ticket. So, car drivers, keep this in mind, I can stop twice as fast as you, so that one second gap just isn’t going to cut it when a moose jumps out. I can stop for the moose, only to be killed by you.
So far all of you back off when I look around and glare, and I appreciate that. Because I’m sure even though you would win the battle between car and bike, surely you’d feel just a little bit bad you killed someone who pays taxes just to get to Timmies a little faster – or so I’d hope.
On the whole Prince George drivers are terrible. They speed and ignore traffic laws entirely. Queensway is a 50 km/h speed limit, yet I am the slowest person that drives that road when I do the limit. First ave is a 50 km/h speed limit, yet I am routinely passed by people that I estimate are doing at least 70-80 km/h. I’m surprised the RCMP don’t patrol that street more often just to make some good income.
I don’t drive a bike, but I am a careful driver, and watch out for them, and everyone else. I think what gives bikes a bad name is the few that drive really fast, weaving in and out of traffic, and ignoring traffic rules. I tend to keep a decent watch on what is going on around me while driving, but occasionally one of these death seeking crotch rockets surprise me. While your thrill seeking is a rush to you, it will ruin my whole day to witness you being killed. You have no chance at “winning” against all the automobiles on the road, especially given your high rate of speed.
To all the careful motorbikes out there, have fun. I’ll be watching for you.
Stupid is as stupid does. There is allways going to be distracted drivers. As a rider i have to keep my eyes peeled at all time on my surroundings and other vehicles.
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