Riders Voice

For The Riders Voice - Click HereManhole/service covers are seen by many riders as an object to avoid went out riding, as they are seen as offering less grip especially if worn or in wet conditions.

As we have said previously, “It’s Not Rocket Science”, that non-slip solutions are available for metallic manhole or service covers.

The latest addition to helping “fight” for improvements in Highway Design and thus improved Road Safety is the “Riders Voice”.

The Riders Voice has taken action to investigate the causes of accidents and to provide statistical analysis surrounding the whole highway defects problem via an on-line survey.

By submitting, anonymously, details of your accident, however large or small and regardless of the damage/injury caused, you will assist Riders Voice in lobbying for change, with statements that address the actual condition of our highways and with statistics that support the needs of decision makers, who in turn will hopefully bring about change.

The questions are mainly multiple choice and should be completed in around 5 minutes, you may be part of a revolution in highway design leading to safer roads and a more pleasurable riding experience.

Formed in 2014 by a team of experienced riders and road safety professionals the Riders Voice is fighting for improvements in Highway Design and improved Road Safety.

Service Cover - Via Riders VoiceThe Riders Voice says, “It is thought that 80% of the less serious single rider accidents that occur on the UK’s roads go unreported to the emergency services, insurance companies and local authorities. It is also considered that the main reasons for this, is not only the financial cost of claims in terms of insurance excesses and increased future premiums, but also because of the stereo typical view that poor riding and particularly, speed, are the primary causes of such accidents.”

In the 2009 Right To Ride – Near Miss Accident Survey of Riders – 14.7% of riders said that that they had a near miss due to skidding, due to road furniture (e.g. man hole/inspection cover).

“Unfortunately, the Department for Transport (DfT) – (Great Britain – in Northern Ireland we have the Roads Service) Casualty Statistics do not reflect this view, because of the lack of, or poor recording of minor incidents. Equally, funding for changes to, or improvements that consider the rider are not implemented because the investment doesn’t alter the figures.”

Here in Northern Ireland in 2013 Preformed Markings assisted leading specialist highways contractor EMTEK, to provide anti-slip solutions to the many manhole covers that stretch along the NW200 Motorcycle Road Race Track

Physically there are options available to road authorities and agencies to improve and maintain a skid-resistance that stops manhole/service covers from remaining slippy.

So if you have had an accident, whether involving a manhole/service cover or not, then take the “Riders Voice” survey.

www.riders-voice.co.uk

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  1. bob craven says

    I have two comments to make.
    1] was watching a video of so called safe riding where the commentator stated that riding over metal grids and manhole covers in the dry and in straight line were not a danger. In the wet it would be different.
    I beg to differ… many are in poor repair and have sunk …..some to an inch or more so the biker believes that the manhole is safe and then as he runs in to it, maybe at speed, the depression can cause the front or rear wheel to stray from its line and its a nearly off or worse.
    2] I have pointed this out to the manufacturers of the coatings that even if the manhole cover is treated it needs to be in a colour other than the same as the surrounding road surface otherwise how can any rider determine if its a covered one or not. If the same colour as the road it may or not and one may have to avoid it whereas if coloured then it becomes more conspicuous as a safe one to ride over. The answer I got is whilst they don’t disagree with that suggestion ultimately its up to the local authority even though there would be no extra cost involved.
    You are right about so many accidents not being reported. I have had slow accidents where i have fallen off. one just the other week with some adverse cambers. I suffered no injury and little damage that was easily sorted but I would never consider reporting it.
    I further believe that in this age of bureaucracy and demands made by insurance companies anything that you mention to them will increase their premiums and cost an administration charge as well.
    Perhaps Speak Your mind can investigate this ludicrous situation where they have us by the short and curlies because we are required by law to have insurance. They are acting like bankers did some years ago make millions on excessive and ridiculous charges for no work or little work… even they can recover reasonable costs what they charge is excessive.

  2. If after the Giro d’italia crash, caused by a wet iron manhole cover, the authorities don’t understand how dangerous they can be, they never will.
    One council I’ve been prodding for several years about a subsiding, polished manhole on a bend and severe adverse camber has finally admitted it needs to be replaced, they tried sticky backed grip-sheeting that the buses simply ripped away, and avoiding the issue, sometimes you have to grind the b’stards down!

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