Boost your motorcycling skills…Part 3

WHat is Bikesafe?

BikeSafe is a police-led scheme that engages with post-test riders to consider why motorcycle crashes are happening. Five strong trends have emerged throughout the country. Filtering, junctions, cornering, overtaking and group riding are problem areas.

Really obvious things seem to be placing everyday riders in life-threatening scenarios. BikeSafe offers potential solutions to the most common crash causes. BikeSafe provides individual rider development reports, which can be taken to a post-test training provider.

BikeSafe is all about bridging the gap into accredited training. “We don’t have you with us long enough to train you how to ride, but we can point out why serious crashes happen. generally, there are fewer reasons than you might imagine. We can work on hazard awareness and managing risks and let you know about the riding system that emergency service riders use to stay safer. We will observe your riding and provide a ‘training needs report’. We then point you, armed with your new knowledge, towards approved training providers, effectively bridging the gap to such trainers. these people can spend the time to put all the jigsaw pieces together to make you a better, safer rider.” phil Edwards, national Bikesafe Co-ordinator To improve the classroom sessions, BikeSafe has an international award-winning DVD presentation that focuses on the collision causes that appear to be most problematic for motorcyclists. Through the use of modern 3D computer-generated imagery, people attending BikeSafe workshops are able to experience virtual collisions, using them as learning platforms to study the causes and explore how they might be avoided by good observation, thorough planning and a systematic approach to riding in the real world.

The majority of people who deliver BikeSafe are police motorcyclists who love biking and want to pass on their experience, although BikeSafe does have support from other suitably qualified volunteers. For morE information
Visit www.bikesafe.co.uk.

Group Riding – Safety in numbers

There’s nothing quite like getting together with a group of friends and going on a ride through some country lanes. But, each year, many riders are killed or injured as a result of a group ride going wrong. Peer pressure and the desire to keep up with the pack can both play a part in raising the risk, and you should never allow the fun of riding with others to reduce your normal sense of caution. Good group riding is all about planning and communication, so by taking a few simple precautions and following a few rules you can make the run safer and more enjoyable.

Plan your ride

• Provide a map of the route with all the stopping places, including fuel stops.
• Exchange mobile phone numbers.
• Decide who leads, who backs up and who navigates.

OR

Playing ‘follow the leader’ can mean riders at the back trying to keep up, but methods do exist to improve group safety. Advanced riding groups tend to use a marking system, which allows overtaking without upsetting the group, with riders stopping at some junctions to mark the route for other riders. This method is effective but will need experienced riders. Advice on this system can be gained from advanced riding groups. Search on-line to find your local advanced riding group.

Ride to the bike behind

Crashes occur when riders try to keep up with those in front, by making rushed overtakes, crossing solid white lines, going too quickly into bends or even jumping red lights. Don’t become impatient. Take your time. If you’re ahead then try to keep the bike behind you in your mirrors all the time. That way progress can be made and you only need to slow down or stop if you can’t see that bike for an extended period.

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