M OTO R C Y C L I S T S

FAC T F I L E

www.westsussex.gov.uk

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1Whether you ride just to and from work,are an enthusiast riding every day, or just get yourbike out on a sunny day – make sure you completeyour journey safely and not become one of themotorcyclists being killed or seriously injured.

Make sure you:

Remember that the essence of good riding isconcentration, observation, anticipation andplanning.

How about further training – especially if it is awhile since you last got on your bike?

RIDE ON...

✷ Develop your riding skills and ride defensively - no one is invincible. Use your experience to keepout of trouble.

✷ Develop your motorcycling sense – rider and machine blend as one.

✷ Make sure you concentrate at all times – develop your observation skills.

✷ Think before you act.

✷ Give appropriate and proper signals – use your horn and headlights thoughtfully.

✷ Exercise constraint and hold back where necessary– if in doubt, wait.

✷ Be especially careful before and during overtaking.

✷ Have a thorough knowledge of the Highway Code.Refresh this knowledge and put it into practice.

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✷ Brakes

✷ Lights (& horn)

✷ Tyres (foreign objects & pressure)

✷ Steering & Suspension

✷ Fuel, oil and coolant levels

Your bike needs to be in tip top condition all ofthe time and this means regular checks.You areresponsible for your bike being safe on the roads,so ask yourself the following questions….

Before you set off on each journey,do you check?

YOU AND YOUR BIKE

2The Highway Code states that all riders and pillionpassengers must wear a protective helmet andsuitable clothing

You

Your Journey

YOU AND YOUR BIKE

✷ Helmet – make sure it is securely fastened andcomplies with safety regulations.

✷ Good clothing (CE marked) – jacket, trousers,gloves and strong boots will help to protect you ifyou should fall off your bike.

✷ High visibility and reflective clothing will help you tobe seen in daylight and darkness.

✷ Plan your journey in advance

✷ Allow plenty of time for your journey

✷ Allow extra time in adverse weather conditions

✷ Check travel bulletins for weather and routeconditions

✷ Take regular breaks – at least every two hours –fatigue can affect everyone

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✷ Always ride at a speed that is entirely safe for thecircumstances and don’t take chances.

✷ Just doubling your speed quadruples your brakingdistance.

✷ Always ride at a speed that enables you to stop safely (not suddenly), well within the distance you can see to be clear ahead of you.

✷ Check your mirrors before your signal, before youchange direction or change lanes, and before you slow down or increase your speed.

✷ Be patient with slower moving vehicles;including those who are learning to drive.

✷ Slow down for horses and cyclists and give them plenty of room when you pass.

Speed limits apply to motorcyclists too!

Just because you are riding a powerful machinedoesn’t mean that you can ride faster than thespeed limit.

In 2004 there were 15 motorcycle fatalities inWest Sussex, along with 56 riders & passengersseriously injured. A further 164 were slightlyinjured – don’t put yourself and others at risk

Remember...

RIDE RESPONSIBLY

3When out riding, consider other road users –particularly vulnerable road users.

Some people may have difficulty in dealing withtraffic situations.The speed at which you ride mayaffect their safety.

Vulnerable Road Users include:

Remember –Pedestrians look out more for carsthan bikes

LOOK OUT

✷ Children who may not be able to judge your speedand could easily step into the road in front of you.

✷ Elderly pedestrians who may need more time tocross the road and who may have difficulty hearingyou approach. Be patient and allow them to crossin their own time. Don’t hurry them by revvingyour engine or edging forward.

✷ Blind and partially sighted people who may havelimited awareness of their road traffic surroundings.

✷ People with disabilities – these road users mayneed more time to deal with traffic

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Being a good rider is about being safe, and it isn’tjust riders on the big powerful bikes who are atrisk.There has been a sharp increase in the sale ofscooters and small commuter bikes as a cheap andfashionable mode of transport, especially withyounger people.

Even though the performance and characteristicsof a scooter are different to those of a larger,more powerful bike, the basic safe riding skills arethe same.

You are very vulnerable on two wheels.Take noteof any changes in the condition of the road surfacethat might affect your braking, steering oracceleration.

Think! Before you ride...

4

The best riders use a higher level of concentrationthan the average rider and are continually scanningall around them for signs of possible dangers.Theydon’t wait for something to develop. Each movethey make is planned event which means that therider is always riding at a safe speed, with the bike inthe right gear and in the safest position on the road.

You’ll find those who have taken developmentcourses in defensive riding techniques are thesafest riders.

A trained rider is a better rider.

follow these simple guidelines toreduce the risks:

Preparation Before you start, agree the route.Decide how long and how far you’ll be riding.Exchange mobile ‘phone numbers so you can keep intouch if someone gets separated from the group.And if you decide to go, let someone know.

Breaks Build in regular breaks for comfort stopsand fuel. Use this opportunity to eat and drink as it’seasy to get dehydrated and this can affect yourconcentration.

continued overleaf >

TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE,YOU NEED TO BE ALERT

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GROUP RIDING

follow these simple guidelines toreduce the risks:

Formation Only the Red Arrows can get awaywith close formations! Leave yourself adequate spacefor braking. Offset your riding position where possibleto stay out of other rider’s blind spots and to giveyourself the best possible view ahead.

Keeping up Ride within the limits of the slowestmember of the group. Don’t force them beyondtheir abilities by making them try to keep up.Better to split into smaller groups and meet up atplanned stops along the route.

Pack mentality Riding in a group means that youneed to be more aware of other road users –especially the other riders in the group. Don’t feelobliged to follow through if the bikes in front overtakea vehicle.Treat your manoeuvers as if you were ridingalone and only go when you know it’s safe. You areresponsible for your own safety. In traffic break intosmaller groups.This will allow you to take up lessspace and can make you more visible to other roadusers. Close up and double up at junctions and trafficlights to make more use of the available space and toreduce the chances of being split up.

And finally... Some people still get intimidated bylarge groups of bikes. Ride sensibly and rememberthat on some rural roads you might be one ofhundreds of bikes that have passed in a relativelyshort time. Keep noise to a minimum and try toavoid generating complaints that could lead tounwelcome attention.

GROUP RIDING continued

5 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ATTHE SCENE OF A CRASH?

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✷ Make sure someone calls 999 and then tells youthat they have done this – give as muchinformation as possible

✷ Protect yourself and the casualty

✷ Do not move the patient – except for reasons ofsafety

✷ Maintain a good airway – monitor closely andsupport the head and neck

✷ Do not remove the helmet unless to maintain theairway

✷ Monitor breathing and pulse

✷ Be prepared to resuscitate

✷ Stop any serious bleeding – do not use torques

✷ Give reassurance and keep the casualty warm – nil by mouth

✷ Hand over details to the ambulance crew

If you are in any doubt contactyour local police station

The more information you can givewill help the emergency servicespinpoint the location and respondquickly to save lives.

WHAT TO DO IN A ROAD TRAFFIC CRASH

IF YOU WITNESS A CRASH

✷ If there are any injuries, dial 999 and ask for Policeand Ambulance

✷ If the road is blocked or the crash is causing seriouscongestion, call 999 and report this.

✷ If there are any serious injuries or fatalities thevehicles must not be moved.

✷ If you are involved in a crash you must stop and ifrequired supply your name, address registrationnumber and vehicle owners name and address if :

✦ Someone has suffered personal injury

✦ Damage has been caused to another vehicle,trailer or property

✦ Injury has been cause to a horse, cattle mule,sheep, goat, pig or dog.

✷ Make a note of the exact time it occurred

✷ Give details of the location (use the nearest junction number on motorways)

✷ Give details of the direction you are travelling

BikeSafe Sussex - Is run by a partnership ofSussex Police and the three Sussex Local Authorities.The one-day workshop is part of a national policeled initiative, where riders benefit from a morningtheory session followed in the afternoon by on-roadassessments. All of the assessors are advanced policeriders. It’s not a training course but a day aimed atincreasing awareness. It hopefully identifies strengthsand weaknesses in preparation for training byrecognised providers. A great confidence builder.

For further details contact: 08452 307407 or visit the website at www.bikesafe.co.uk

Advanced Courses - Both the Institute ofAdvanced Motorists (IAM), the Royal Society for thePrevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the BritishMotorcycle Federation (BMF) have groups based inand around the County.The groups offer one to oneriding assessments from trained volunteers.These canbe very flexible to suit the time you have available.

Motorcycle Trainers - They don’t only get ridersthrough the test.They often provide post-test training toa high standard and have packages to suit most riders.

Information on approved Training Bodies in Sussexis available from the Driving Standards Agency,Yellow Pages or from the Road Safety TeamsWest Sussex 01243 642105East Sussex 01273 482294Brighton & Hove City 01273 293704Sussex Police 0845 6070999

COURSES TO CONSIDER6

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PERSONAL DETAILS

NEXT OF KIN /EMERGENCY CONTACT

Name

Address

Home Phone

Mobile Phone

Date of Birth

Relationship

Name

Address

Home Phone

Mobile Phone

Blood Type

Special Instructions

Dentures

Contact Lenses

Pacemaker

Diabetic

Allergies

Medication for

■■ Asthma ■■ Anti Coagulant ■■ Epilepsy

■■ Diabetes ■■ Heart Problems

7 REMINDERS

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Bike Dealer Contact

MOT Due

Tyre Pressures

FrontRear

Insurance Company

Policy Number

Renewal Date

Service Due

USEFUL TELEPHONENUMBERSSussex Police 0845 6070999Road Maintenancein West Sussex 01243 642105Diesel spills 01243 642105Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 0115 901 2595British MotorcyclistsFederation 0116 254 8818Motorcycle Action Group 0870 444 8448Institute of AdvancedMotorists – car drivers 0208 996 9600Institute of Advanced Motorists – Motorcyclists 01903 815175RoSPA 0121 248 2000RoSPA Advanced Driver Association (RoADA) 0121 248 2099RAC 0208 917 2500AA 0870 600 0371Guild of ExperiencedMotorists 01342 826676

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M OTO R C Y C L I S T S

FAC T F I L E

www.westsussex.gov.uk