Earlier today the Arrive Alive website received a news release from Netcare 911 about a motorcycle accident north of Randburg. It was reported that the full leather kit did a lot to protect the rider , however the male bike rider still sustained serious burns to both legs and lower body as well as a shoulder injury sustained during the fall
This was not my first update on motorcycle safety as a friend on Facebook made mention in her “status update” earlier the morning of the passing away of a Harley Davidson rider in Bloemfontein.
Motorcycle safety is a very important aspect of road safety and an aspect that has received much publicity in recent months. The passing away of Brian Cannoo, chairman of Think Bike, on the 18th of February has emphasized that no matter how safety conscious the rider might be – the threats are constant and will not go away.
In South Africa there are many variables posing a threat to motorcyclists. These include drunk pedestrians, potholes in the road surface, animals on the road etc. If this is further complimented by the dangerous driving behavior of other road users –we have a recipe for disaster!
Much are done by motorcycle enthusiasts on the safe of road safety awareness and training and the efforts of bodies such as Think Bike, OTRE etc can be applauded. From the side of the road safety website we would like to compliment these efforts. There are many informative websites and blogs across the world on road safety for motorcyclists and we can only assist in spreading these messages.
I would like to refer to a informative blog post titled: “So You Want To Ride A Motorcycle and Not Die”. This focuses on different aspects of safety which every motorcyclist needs to consider before starting his bike!
The Arrive Alive website would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of those riders who have passed away in recent months. May we never stop our efforts to enhance the safety of all bike riders!!
Thanks AA
I’m really pleased the guy had gear on, that saved his life!!! But what a waste.
Bikes are on the increase, there will be more of them every day. It’s very dangerous still, but as public consciousness increases, so will the safety of the riders. Commute time, petrol costs, and enjoyment of the journey are all reasons to get a bike, with safety up to the rider, in both what he wears ( ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME) and HOW he rides.
Next time you see someone commuting on a bike, they are brave people, who are not contributiong to your traffic jam. Be nice to them, they just need a small gap.
Just correction…He was not in full kit, he was in a Dainese Jacket, Shark RSR2 Helmet, Gloves, Jeans and leather shoes. We think that if he was in full leathers it would have made a huge change in the degree of burns he suffered…REMEMBER, dress for the fall, not for the weather, all the kit all the time
I find it amazing that some motorcyclists don’t take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. I have pretty much every safety thing you can have, from helmets, to extended mirrors, to aheadlight modulator and the rest.