This weekend was a tragic one for motorcyclists in Scotland.
Three fatalities and one young man in a serious condition in hospital. Add those on to the others who have lost their lives biking this year, so far, and these become worrying statistics.
Yes, I know that these were people with lives and families and that they are much more than statistics. But, they were people whose individuality will be lost among the growing number of fatalities and the consequential growing criticism of motor-bikes.
We, as bikers, have often claimed that the most dangerous thing about riding a motor-cycle is car drivers. How long can we continue to take this line? Especially when you look at what actually happened over the weekend. In three out of the four accidents, the bike was the only vehicle involved.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists reckon that speed and a lack of experience are the two biggest dangers facing bikers in rural areas whereas in cities it is other traffic on the road.
I would hazard a guess that most serious bike accidents happen on rural roads. We've all seen the rice rockets burning up the country roads. Taking corners at speeds and road positions which, were something coming the other way, would certainly be the end. Speed is the thrill that many youngsters take up biking to experience. They're just not good enough to handle it.
Then there are the born again bikers. Some of us go down the route of buying a cruiser. The harleys and goldwings which are big machines but just don't go that fast. But I'm sure for every harley rider there must be dozens of thirty/forty-something year olds who are trying to recreate the thrills they knew in their teens and twenties. Thrills are one thing but how often do they end in spills?
Already the call has started, through the media, for more training. Would compulsory training be the answer? should all new riders be banned from riding alone for a time? Legislation is at the moment being tightened up to increase the age that someone can use the Direct Access Scheme. Should everyone be limited in the size of bike they can ride for a couple of years?
Freedom is the creed of motorcyclists and almost every call for tighter legislation or tougher and lengthier training can be (and is) seen as a restriction on that freedom. There are still some bikers who proclaim that "helmet laws suck". But, meanwhile, road deaths amongst bikers continue to fill the news headlines.
So what is the answer?
Three fatalities and one young man in a serious condition in hospital. Add those on to the others who have lost their lives biking this year, so far, and these become worrying statistics.
Yes, I know that these were people with lives and families and that they are much more than statistics. But, they were people whose individuality will be lost among the growing number of fatalities and the consequential growing criticism of motor-bikes.
We, as bikers, have often claimed that the most dangerous thing about riding a motor-cycle is car drivers. How long can we continue to take this line? Especially when you look at what actually happened over the weekend. In three out of the four accidents, the bike was the only vehicle involved.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists reckon that speed and a lack of experience are the two biggest dangers facing bikers in rural areas whereas in cities it is other traffic on the road.
I would hazard a guess that most serious bike accidents happen on rural roads. We've all seen the rice rockets burning up the country roads. Taking corners at speeds and road positions which, were something coming the other way, would certainly be the end. Speed is the thrill that many youngsters take up biking to experience. They're just not good enough to handle it.
Then there are the born again bikers. Some of us go down the route of buying a cruiser. The harleys and goldwings which are big machines but just don't go that fast. But I'm sure for every harley rider there must be dozens of thirty/forty-something year olds who are trying to recreate the thrills they knew in their teens and twenties. Thrills are one thing but how often do they end in spills?
Already the call has started, through the media, for more training. Would compulsory training be the answer? should all new riders be banned from riding alone for a time? Legislation is at the moment being tightened up to increase the age that someone can use the Direct Access Scheme. Should everyone be limited in the size of bike they can ride for a couple of years?
Freedom is the creed of motorcyclists and almost every call for tighter legislation or tougher and lengthier training can be (and is) seen as a restriction on that freedom. There are still some bikers who proclaim that "helmet laws suck". But, meanwhile, road deaths amongst bikers continue to fill the news headlines.
So what is the answer?
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