RSA – Hide And Seek

RSA-Logo MAG Ireland – (The Irish Motorcyclists’ Action Group) have reported on the launch this week of two new television adverts (see below) by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) aimed at raising awareness of motorcyclists among drivers.

MAG Ireland say: “The adverts are short at just 20 seconds each and anchored on the premise that:

The most vulnerable person on the road is the one you can’t see.

To date, thirteen motorcyclists have died on Irish roads this year. Several of these cases involved another vehicle violating the rider’s right of way. MAG Ireland fully endorses the RSA’s efforts in raising awareness among drivers and indeed this is a subject we specifically raised at our last meeting with the RSA.

MAG Ireland also advises riders to be ultra vigilant, especially on the approach to junctions. Never assume that a driver has seen you. Expect the unexpected and ride at a speed such that you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear. Never overtake on approach to a junction or filling station.

So far, 2014 is proving to be another bad year for motorcycle casualties. This trend has to be stopped and awareness among drivers is key to that. We as riders must do everything we can to ensure they don’t get the chance to say “Sorry mate I didn’t see you”.

In the meantime, share the RSA adverts on your social media accounts and remind your non-biking family and friends that we are not invisible.”

Here in Northern Ireland nine motorcyclists have lost their lives in fatal collisions to date, the youngest rider was 28 and the oldest rider was 68, with seven of these involving another vehicle.

magirelandlogoWe would endorse MAG Ireland’s advice that riders need to be, “ultra vigilant, especially on the approach to junctions. Never assume that a driver has seen you. Expect the unexpected and ride at a speed such that you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear. Never overtake on approach to a junction or filling station.”

Our own advice for other vehicle drivers:

  • Motorcycles can be more difficult to detect because they are narrower than a car, even if the motorcycle has its lights on, or the rider is wearing reflective or bright clothing.
  • Research has demonstrated that drivers find it harder to analyse the outline of the oncoming motorcycle as well as calculating the distance and speed of movement.
  • Believe it or not, a motorcycle and its rider can be hidden from your view at junctions by very narrow objects such as lamp posts – road signs – the A-Pillar of your vehicle and also overgrown road side vegetation.
  • Watch your mirrors – riders can be in your blind spot missing from your view between interior and door mirror.
  • Judge the distance and judge the speed – don’t rush junctions.
  • Listen for motorcyclists at junctions – especially in rural areas – wind down your window – turn down your radio.

Please take time at junctions – whether turning out of or turning into a junction – or a petrol station – or your own driveway.

Thankfully at last the PSNI seem to have got a handle to some extend on what is now a scourge on our roads – the use of mobile phones – as they have started a new crackdown on motorists using mobile phones while driving on roads across Northern Ireland.

The last thing a motorcyclist wants to hear is, I didn’t see him/her or, are you all right!

“With a little thought other vehicle drivers can get it right and see us, motorcyclists should be a first thought,  not just a second thought!”

Original Source – MAG Ireland – Click Here

Hide And Seek

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