Riders are being encouraged to follow five simple ‘lifesaver’ tips and reduce the risk of being involved in a collision.
The tips have been published by GEM Motoring Assist, who says it is keen to reduce motorcycle casualties as the new riding season gains momentum.
The five ‘lifesaver’ tips are:
- If you’ve had your bike in the garage for the winter, ensure it’s serviced, tax, insured and road legal before you take it out
- Use the start of the riding season to invest in a refresher day with a training professional
- Ensure self-preservation is your priority – the predominant cause of motorcycle crashes is the failure of car drivers to detect and recognise motorcycles in traffic
- Don’t ride beyond your comfort zone, especially if you’re riding in a group
- Try not to dwell on your errors as you go along – plan well ahead, anticipate the next hazards
At the same time, GEM is urging other road users to improve their observation in an attempt to reduce the number of motorcycle collisions.
Neil Worth, GEM chief executive, said: “We anticipate large numbers of riders wanting to make up for lost time in 2020. Most will ride sensibly and responsibly, but some are likely to take unnecessary risks.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction to be gained from riding a motorcycle with skill and precision. But if you’re riding at speed, there is no margin for error if you – or another road user near you – gets something wrong.
“This year, more than ever, we’re encouraging riders to give themselves an all-important ‘skills MOT’ during this early part of the season.
“But we’re also urging drivers and pedestrians to make a special point of looking out for motorcyclists, especially at junctions where riders are particularly at risk.”
12 May 2021
