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Wheels24 reader and veteran rider HILTON CARROLL shares his top six safety tips for South African riders. more suggestions welcome...
1 My biggest problem with riders (and I was one for many years before I became a senior citizen) is speeding between cars, particularly close to ramps on freeways. When cars change lanes to exit, drivers might not be able to spot you!
Excessive speed and weaving between lanes on freeways is also highly dangerous, as drivers can't anticipate riders travelling at160 km/h or more. A car changing lanes can be fatal to a rider.
'IT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF HOSPITAL'
2 When traffic is moving freely, bikers should position their bikes as if it were a car, occupying the centre of the lane. This ensures they are visible to all road users. If traffic slows, proceed cautiously, preferably when traffic is stationary.
3 Then there are riders wearing shorts and soft shoes. You should wear protective clothing and boots at all times while riding. It will help keep you out of hospital if you come off your bike.
4 Riders should be wary at intersections as cars will pull away and since some drivers do not check oncoming traffic correctly, riders will be obscured by windscreen pillars. Drivers please take note - do not be in a hurry to drive away at a stop street!
'HELMETS DON'T HAVE WIPERS'
5 After rainstorm, bikers should be aware of gravel that's been washed onto roads. To SA drivers - please spare a thought for bikers when it's raining. Helmet visors do not have wipers and the poor oke most likely left his rain gear at home!
6 Drivers will use their cell phones and drivers fiddle with radios/CD players while driving. This causes vehicles to drift across lanes as eyes are not on the road ahead. It's highly dangerous and riders should be wary of their surroundings!
A good deal of courtesy and common sense will go a long way to making SA's roads safer for both bikers and drivers!
More readers' rider safety tips below:
Safe riding: Biker's call to action
‘Biker born, biker bred. When I die, I’ll be biker dead.’ Wheels24 reader SCHALK COETZEE shares his advice and experience for SA road users - on two AND four wheels.
Reader: An end to biker herd-mentality
'Group travel and monkey see, monkey do mentality is one of the main causes for serious bike accidents,' Wheels24 reader WOUTER BRAND said he would support Australia's proposed ban on motorcyclists riding in groups of three or more.
Do you have any safety tips you'd like to share with fellow road users? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts, too, on Wheels24.
1 My biggest problem with riders (and I was one for many years before I became a senior citizen) is speeding between cars, particularly close to ramps on freeways. When cars change lanes to exit, drivers might not be able to spot you!
Excessive speed and weaving between lanes on freeways is also highly dangerous, as drivers can't anticipate riders travelling at160 km/h or more. A car changing lanes can be fatal to a rider.
'IT WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF HOSPITAL'
2 When traffic is moving freely, bikers should position their bikes as if it were a car, occupying the centre of the lane. This ensures they are visible to all road users. If traffic slows, proceed cautiously, preferably when traffic is stationary.
3 Then there are riders wearing shorts and soft shoes. You should wear protective clothing and boots at all times while riding. It will help keep you out of hospital if you come off your bike.
4 Riders should be wary at intersections as cars will pull away and since some drivers do not check oncoming traffic correctly, riders will be obscured by windscreen pillars. Drivers please take note - do not be in a hurry to drive away at a stop street!
'HELMETS DON'T HAVE WIPERS'
5 After rainstorm, bikers should be aware of gravel that's been washed onto roads. To SA drivers - please spare a thought for bikers when it's raining. Helmet visors do not have wipers and the poor oke most likely left his rain gear at home!
6 Drivers will use their cell phones and drivers fiddle with radios/CD players while driving. This causes vehicles to drift across lanes as eyes are not on the road ahead. It's highly dangerous and riders should be wary of their surroundings!
A good deal of courtesy and common sense will go a long way to making SA's roads safer for both bikers and drivers!
More readers' rider safety tips below:
Safe riding: Biker's call to action
‘Biker born, biker bred. When I die, I’ll be biker dead.’ Wheels24 reader SCHALK COETZEE shares his advice and experience for SA road users - on two AND four wheels.
Reader: An end to biker herd-mentality
'Group travel and monkey see, monkey do mentality is one of the main causes for serious bike accidents,' Wheels24 reader WOUTER BRAND said he would support Australia's proposed ban on motorcyclists riding in groups of three or more.
Do you have any safety tips you'd like to share with fellow road users? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts, too, on Wheels24.