Motorcycle Safety: Information You Need to Know

The majority of my riding is in the rural countryside. Out here, the motorcycle accidents are most often about one party or the other failing to stop at an intersection or a motorcyclist failing to make a curve (most often late at night).

Ask any group of motorcycle riders which situation is the most dangerous and you will hear the same answer. At an intersection when the car in the oncoming lane makes a left hand turn crashing into the motorcycle rider under the claim: "I didn't see him".

From my experience, this is the scenario I fear the most. But is my “seat of the pants” assessment accurate?

Hats off to the Halton Regional Police Service for compiling and publishing information on motorcycle accidents. This information is a real step toward making motorcycling safer. Halton region includes the cities of Oakville, Burlington and Milton, along with some pretty nice rural riding areas along the Niagara Escarpment. The document is called “Halton Regional Police Service Motorcycle Safety Pocket Guide” and is available from the Police Service.

The Numbers

So what do their numbers say? Eighty-five motorcycle collisions were reported in 2015.

• 87% of fatal or life altering injuries were motorcycle operator error
• 93% of collisions were during clear weather conditions
• 85% of collisions were on dry roads
• 80% of collisions were during daylight
• 64% of collisions had non fatal injuries
• 60% of collisions involved other vehicles
• 26% of collisions occurred between 3 pm and 5 pm.

The statistics show that most of the accidents happen during the day when it is clear and dry. Not a surprise as that is when we like to ride. However, what is important to note is that 87% of the fatal/life altering accidents had some level of motorcycle operator error.

The Halton report also provides average stopping distances from a variety of speeds. Speeding is a factor in many urban motorcycle accidents. We aren’t talking about going with the flow of traffic at 10 kph over the limit. The speeding that is a concern is when a motorcycle is travelling 20-40 kph faster than traffic is travelling. The faster you are moving on your bike, the longer it takes to stop – plain and simple. If you can stop in time at 60 kph you won’t be able to at 80 kph.

The other problem with travelling 20-40 kph faster than traffic is that your ability to make a decision has to happen so much faster. Faster than you expect!

Your ability to make a collision avoiding “move” is compromised because it happens so fast. How do I avoid that Buick making a left turn in front of me? Do I try to stop? Can I change lanes? Do I go onto the shoulder? The time you have to make that decision has to be made in a fraction of a second. Cut that time dramatically if you are speeding.

What Are You Wearing?

I spoke to a Halton Traffic Officer about the Press Release. He asked that I include a few comments about riding apparel and injuries. Officer R. tells me that motorcycle injuries would be reduced in severity if riders rode in proper gear. Running shoes, jeans and a t-shirt are not going to prevent road rash and broken bones. Just riding down to “Timmies”? Gear up anyway!

Halton Regional Police Service have shown concern for motorcyclists and their safety. I encourage you to have a look at their report.

BTW, thanks Halton Police for thinking about us!