In the early hours of the morning on Saturday 08 June, 22-year-old Jason Pieterse was stationary at a red robot in Zastron Street, Bloemfontein, when he was hit from behind by a speeding bakkie. It was nothing short of a miracle that Pieterse survived the accident, which left him fighting for his life in Pelonomi Hospital. A case of reckless and negligent driving was opened against the unidentified driver of the bakkie, and to date, unfortunately, no arrests have been made. As convenient a transport option as motorcycles are, there is no way to deny that they remain among the most vulnerable of all vehicle types on South African roads.
The statistics speak for themselves
During the course of any given year, an average of 641 motorcycle accidents that require law enforcement or medical intervention occur in South Africa, according to the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa. This equates to 12 accidents a week or roughly two a day, which results in a total of 520 injuries and 166 fatalities. These statistics simply reiterate what we already know: that a motorcycle offers significantly less protection than a standard vehicle, making it exceedingly important to take extra caution while on the road.
Make an effort to remain safe on the road
Every year, tens of thousands of bikers take to the road on their Hondas, Harleys and BMWs, and head to the RevAfrica Bike Week in East London and the South Coast Bike Festival that takes place in Margate. Some of these bikers travel more than 1000km to reach their destinations, requiring them to stay alert and ride-responsible for extended periods of time. Wearing protective clothing is of the utmost importance for protection not only against the elements, but against injury should you be involved in an accident as well. Always keep your headlights on when driving, and ride in such a position that you remain as visible as possible to other road users.
Split lanes with caution
While lane splitting is not illegal in South Africa, it is important to adhere to certain safety precautions when doing it. Never travel more than 20km/h faster than other traffic, and do not lane split if traffic is travelling faster than 50km/h. It is always safer to split in lanes 1 and 2, while lane splitting near highway exits is extremely dangerous. Always take note of your surroundings before splitting lanes, and be alert enough to anticipate any sudden movements by other road users.
Staying safe on the road is essential, regardless of whether you ride your motorcycle every day or only on occasion. By following the rules of the road, you will not only decrease your own chances of becoming a road accident statistic, but that of other road users as well.
