Bikers are ‘forgotten cousins’

Bikers are the Government’s ‘forgotten cousins’ when it comes to safety, despite the role of powered two-wheelers in cutting congestion, according to the AA.

Ed King - AA President

AA president Edmund King, addressing a major motorcycle conference in London on 11 November, (see additional story) said: "We have heard much lately about improving the safety of cyclists from the Prime Minister downwards, yet motorcyclists appear to be the forgotten cousins. This is despite the fact that motorbikes and scooters can play a vital role in helping to reduce congestion and enhance mobility in our towns and cities.”

King said: "We need to ensure drivers are much more aware of the presence and possible presence of motorbikes and, indeed, cycles on our roads. It is worrying that half of all drivers are often caught out by 'invisible' motorcycles seemingly coming out of nowhere. Motorcyclists also need to always be aware that they might not be seen.

"We need a step change in attitudes to provide a positive role for powered two-wheelers in our transport strategy. Safer, more fuel-efficient bikes coupled with serious inclusion of motorcycling within transport policy could bring benefits for all road users. All too often motorcycling is written off as deemed to be unsafe."
King made his call for a change in attitudes after he revealed a survey showed more than half of all drivers (57 per cent) are often surprised when a motorcycle appears from nowhere.



 

This finding comes at a time when provisional government figures show an 8 per cent increase in motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in the spring this year compared with spring last year.

King addressed the issue of "Sharing the roads: Changing attitudes" by highlighting a recent AA Populus poll of 21,165 conducted between 11-17 October 2013. The main findings were:
 

•     57 per cent of car drivers are often surprised when a motorcycle appears from nowhere. This increases to 63 per cent among females and drivers over 65 years of age. London is the region with the greatest percentage of drivers surprised by motorbikes appearing from nowhere (60 per cent).
•     92 per cent recognise that motorcyclists are vulnerable and always give them more space.
•     40 per cent believe that motorcyclists are inconsiderate. The number increases in London (46 per cent) and the south-east (44 per cent) and among females (43 per cent) and those aged 25-34 (49 per cent).
•     88 per cent of drivers say they always look out for motorcyclists. This increases to 90 per cent of 45-54 year olds who are perhaps the born-again bikers.
•     85 per cent admit that motorcyclists are sometimes hard to see. 88 per cent of females and those aged 24-34 believe this. The south-east is the region with the highest percentage admitting this (87 per cent).

King also pointed out that there was a considerable cross-over between drivers and those on two wheels, with some 18 per cent of AA members holding a motorcycle licence.

Interestingly, King said the survey showed bikers would be safer if there were more on the road. When the survey asked what people thought if there were a lot more motorcycles on the roads, it found:
 

• 54 per cent say they would be more aware of motorcycles
• 25 per cent would be more likely to consider motorcyclists as legitimate road users
• 13 per cent would personally consider using a motorcycle for their daily commute
• 35 per cent would make more concessions in their driving for motorcyclists
• 24 per cent would hope that more drivers took to motorcycles so they could benefit from reduced congestion.

King concluded: "We need to work in collaboration with others when looking at transport policy always to think once, think twice, think bikes."



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