The National Safety Council (NSC) has appealed to motorcyclists to complete a rider-training course to help curb a dramatic rise in motorcycle fatalities on Irish roads.
A total of 39 motorcyclists have been killed on Irish roads since the beginning of the year, compared with 25 to the same date in 2002. In all, 41 motorcyclists were killed in 2002.
The NSC say that despite representing less than two per cent of the total number of licensed vehicles in Ireland, motorcycle users have accounted for almost one in five (18 per cent) of all road deaths to date this year.
The chief executive of the National Safety Council, Mr Pat Costello, said: "The number of motorcycle fatalities is a cause for concern, almost one motorcyclist a week has died on our roads since the beginning of the year".
"The mild weather we have experienced since the beginning of the year has seen many bikers take to the roads earlier and more frequently," he said.
"This coupled with the fact that relatively low numbers of motorcyclists have received any formal training, our own research indicates that as many as seven out of ten motorcyclists have not received any formal training, could explain the rise in fatalities," he added.
He added that by acquiring the right skills through proper training, motorcyclists will receive knowledge and expertise to ride a motorbike safely.
- Road safety issues that motorcyclists need to be aware of are:
- Filtering: i.e. overtaking slow moving or stationary traffic. Motorcyclists need to understand the dangers and pit falls of doing this and when it is appropriate.
- Overtaking: A significant percentage of all motorcycle crashes involving other vehicles occurs when the other vehicle crosses the path of the motorcycle. So the advice to motorcyclists is don't overtake at junctions and don't overtake at areas where traffic can turn right.
- Left hand bends: A high proportion of motorcycle crashes happen because the biker didn't accurately assess the severity of a bend. If positioning on the road is incorrect when approaching a bend and combined with inappropriate speed the biker will end up on the wrong side facing oncoming traffic or they may end up in the ditch.
- Improper use of brakes: There are specific guidelines on how to correctly use the front and rear brakes of a motorbike. A motorcyclist should have an understanding of the dynamics and theory of the braking system.
- Day Time Headlights: Use your headlights day and night.