Drivers urged to be more alert to motorcyclists

A campaign has been launched to encourage drivers in towns and cities to be more alert to motorcyclists.

The campaign sourced by the Department for Transport is aiming to reduce the high level of road accidents involving motorcyclists with a mixture of television and radio adverts and posters.

An estimated 1,500 motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured in the UK every year because drivers look but fail to see them.

Motorcycle casualties fell in 2004, the most recent statistics available, but motorcyclists still account for 17 percent of all road fatalities, despite making up only one percent of all motor vehicle traffic.

The first element of the campaign is a 30 second television advert encouraging car drivers to look longer for bikes, it shows a typical accident at a T-junction.

The car driver, coming from a side road casts a quick glance to the right before pulling out and turning right onto the main road, suddenly a motorbike travelling along the main road crashes into the side of the car, leaving the motorist confused and shocked.

The scenario is replayed this time with the car driver looking for longer, first right, left and then right again, while the bike passes harmlessly in front of the car.

A radio advert backs up the television message revealing that 1500 motorcyclists are killed or injured because drivers look but don’t see.

The third element is a six sheet poster campaign using sites adjacent to petrol stations. The posters remind urban bikers to make sure they are seen.

Research shows the common cause of motorcycle crashes are right of way violations where, typically, one vehicle fails to give way to another at a junction.

In nearly 65 percent of these incidents where the driver is at fault, the motorcyclist would have been visible.

The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) General Manager Eddie Barnaville said: "We support this campaign, but we think motorcyclists should take further training.

"Bikers have a responsibility to look after themselves and make themselves as visible as possible to other drivers.

"The DIA runs the DIAmond Advanced Motorcyclist course which we recommend for all bikers regardless of experience."

The DIAmond Advanced Motorcyclist course is available to all riders wishing to improve skills, boost confidence and learn to ride more safely.

Advanced motorcycling is the ability to control the position and speed of the machine safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to make progress unobtrusively with skill and responsibility.

Once the course is completed riders can take their Advanced Motorcyclist Test which uses the Government Driving Standards Agency’s test marking system.

Examiners will mark down on the test if more than six minor errors are made.
After the figure of eight and slow riding sections, which necessarily take place off public roads, the on-road element of the test is over 35 or 40 miles, and routes cover a variety of roads in built up areas, derestricted roads, including dual carriageways and where possible motorways.

The test equips riders to be better, safer and more confident and possibly qualifying them for a discount on their insurance premium.