SAFE RIDING: KNOW THE RISKS

Courtesy of THINK!

The most unfortunate stats for any motorcycle rider are the numbers of accidents on two wheels. Here are some details you won’t like reading:

Motorcyclists as total percentage of traffic: 1%
Motorcyclists as total percentage of fatalities: 18%

Number of motorcyclist deaths in 2005: 569
Number of motorcyclist serious injuries in 2005: 5,939

(Source: Department for Transport report "Tomorrow's roads: Safer for Everyone" 2006)

We hope you agree that, unlike the performance stats for that superbike you’ve got your eye on, these figures are nothing worth boasting about.

But here’s a more welcome figure. The THINK! Road Safety Campaign is aiming for a 40% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2010.

And as a result, they can recommend some modifications to your road-going set up. Here are those canny adjustments in full:

Wear an approved bike helmet
Colour: white or at least bright.
Requirements: undamaged, securely fitting
Wear protective clothing
Colour: fluorescent (day), reflective (night).
Look for: Good quality, CE seal of approval.
Fine conditions: leathers offer unbeatable protection from grazing.
Wet conditions: weatherproof armoured clothing keeps you dry and focussed
Check your visor
Watch out for: dirt, scratches.
Note: avoid tinted visor or goggles at night

The final component you might want to enhance in time for the next journey is YOU. Tighten up your technique, especially at T-junctions.