Keeping safe while two-wheeling

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

Between 2010 and 2014, there were 3,323 motorcycles involved in collisions, with 153 resulting in death.
The month of July is motorcycle awareness month in Alberta, with the aim to educate motorcycle riders about how to stay safe when out on the road.
The Government of Alberta advises that motorcycles drivers should have proper training in order to have a safe trip. While not a necessity to obtain your Class 6 license, motorcycle training is believed to be more than helpful when it comes to learning about how to operate the bike and stay safe.
Many insurance companies have begun to offer insurance credits and reductions for motorcycles if the owner has undergone training.
“We teach basically the safety aspects of things in terms of situational awareness,” said Dennis Bigras, owner and instructor of Mobile Motorcycle Training. “This includes controlling your environment, so I teach them methods to recognize problems and what to do to avoid problems.”
Bigras has been riding motorcycles for about 35 years and became an instructor in 2009. The one thing he stresses at his school is safety. An important safety aspect when riding a motorcycle is to remember to read the road ahead and to prepare for the curves, as Bigras said 80 per cent of accidents occur on curves.
He also explained the need for helmets, something the Government of Alberta stresses the need for as well.
There are three different kinds of helmets available for motorcyclists. There is the full face, which offers full face and head protection and is best recommended for use on bikes with no windshield, where the rider is more likely to be hit by flying stones or bugs.
There is also the 3/4 motorcycle helmet that covers the head and ears; some can come with a sun visor. This is better recommended for bikes with a visor or when the rider is in less danger of been hit with a flying rock.
Lastly there is the half shell helmet, which only covers the top of the head and offers the least amount of protection.
As with any motorized vehicle, the Government of Alberta also advises riders not to get on the bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Maneuvering a bike requires sharp focus and good reflexes, both of which would be dulled if the rider was intoxicated. And, motorcycle riders can be charged and arrested with driving under the influence.
While motorcyclists need to be responsible for their own safety, Brian Mason, provincial Minister of Transportation, stated in a press release all road users need to be aware of who is using the road and to be careful when driving next to a motorcycle.