NOTE: This booklet gives essential principles for safe and enjoyable motorcycling. It is not a complete roadcraft manual nor is a basis for the driving test.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, with the permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. No information contained in this publication can be used in any other directory or mailing list.
Norwich Union, 60/63 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
| Phone | (01) 671 8000 |
| Fax | (01) 671 0831 |
As well as additional sponsorship from :
Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd., Trafalgar House, Manchester Road, Altricham, Chesire, WA14 - 1NU, England.
| Phone | 0044 161 927 2424 |
| Fax | 0044 161 927 2404 |
Motor Imports Ltd., BMW House, John F. Kennedy Drive, Naas Road, Dublin 8, Ireland.
| Phone | (01) 450 8044 |
| Fax | (01) 450 8509 |
Intercontinental Distributors Ltd., Jamestown Business Park, Jamestown Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.
| Phone | (01) 834 4289 (01) 834 1297 |
| Fax | (01) 834 1297 |
Honda Distributors, Crosslands Business Park, Ballymount Road, Dublin 12.
| Phone | (01) 460 2111 |
| Fax | (01) 456 6462 |
| honda@iol.ie |
Priory Cycle Motorcycle Manufacturing Ltd., 533 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.
| Phone | (01) 460 2111 (01) 460 4567 (01) 460 3665 |
| Fax | (01) 456 6462 |
This booklet is for you
Research has proven that a powered two-wheeled vehicle, moped, scooter or motorcycle requires around five times more skill and concentration to ride safely compared to car driving.
Mopeds, scooters and motorcycles are inherently vulnerable vehicles but you can increase the pleasure you get from riding and reduce your risk of being involved in an accident by remembering and using the ten Right Way principles.
This booklet also tells you what you could usefully do in the event of coming across an accident, and what you should not do.
It also deals with riding with a pillion passenger and carrying luggage on your bike, and suggests anti-theft measures and devices you should consider.
Rider training is the single most effective way to increase your safety and enjoyment of motorcycling. Basic training will help you to do it right first time and prevents you from adopting bad habits. A motorcyclists first ten thousand miles are the most vulnerable and good basic training minimises that risk.
There is no compulsory requirement for rider training in Ireland, but do not under-estimate the risks you'll be taking if you think you can manage without a proper introduction to motorcycling. Your friends' who have bikes might be able to ride quite well - that doesn't make them good instructors.
If you had a bike some years ago and are now coming back to biking be careful. Traffic is heavier, motorcycles are more advanced and your riding skills will have deteriorated from lack of practise. Approach it as if you were starting out again.
Even if you've been riding for many years and have avoided a serious accident, this does not mean that your riding is the best it can be. Most of us develop lazy, bad habits over a period of time - these can be very dangerous.
Some rider training courses are available to suit everyone from the complete beginner to the rider with many years' experience. A Fact Sheet giving details of currently available training courses is available from MAG Ireland.
Bike shops can be very helpful, from helping you chose the right machine and clothing to putting you in touch with local clubs, training facilities etc.
The Irish Motorcyclists' Action Group exists to "promote and protect" motorcycling in Ireland. Members can qualify for worthwhile discounts at bike shops. Facts Sheets on a variety of topics; Riders Training, the Driving Test, Anti-Theft measures are available from MAG free of charge. Send an A5 (230 X 160 mm) self addressed envelope with a 35p stamp MAG Ireland at 1b Ring Terrace, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Your local Motor Tax Office will help you with driving licence and vehicle tax and registration formalities.
When you are riding everything around you is constantly changing, often rapidly, and at times there may seem to be too much to take in. You have to expect the unexpected. You must remain alert all the time. Especially look out for:
Cars, trucks and buses leaving an oily strip in the middle of traffic lanes. Roads get very slippery after a light shower and, even more so, after a long, dry spell. Children, dogs and cats are likely to appear suddenly, especially in built-up areas. Cattle, sheep and horses often stray onto roads, even in towns. Drivers stuck behind slow-moving vehicles are likely to behave erratically. Accidents are more frequent late at night, early morning and weekends Loose surfaces require different riding techniques and extreme caution. Junctions and roundabouts where right-of-way errors are common. Corners with low visibility - can you see The Big Picture ?
Keeping a safe distance from other roads users, parked cars and fixed objects at the road-side gives you more time to react if something unexpected happens. Remember, other road users can act in an unpredictable manner. Keeping your distance allows you to respond when:
When riding you should use the "two second rule" - always keeping at least two seconds between you and the vehicle in front. One way of checking this guide is to note when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object on the side of the road (telegraph pole, road sign etc.), or a mark on the road surface, start counting to yourself "one thousand and one, one thousand and two". If you pass the fixed object before you get to "two", you're too close.
Sometimes you need to increase your following distance and keep more than two seconds behind - 3 or even 4 seconds in poorer conditions, for example when:
Many drivers after an accident or near-miss say "Sorry, I didn't see you". That's not good enough. All road users have an obligation to be aware of motorcyclists. It is in your interests to be seen by other road users.
You can increase your visibility by:
Remember experienced riders always assume they haven't been seen and are prepared for the unexpected.
Bikes, and even many mopeds and scooters, can accelerate faster than cars, fit into smaller spaces, and are more manoeuvrable and versatile in traffic. Whilst these advantages make bikes useful, they are sometimes the reason other road users often don't "see" riders. A car driver may wander in and out of a small gap in the traffic without realising a rider might be about to enter it.
If other road users can see you, if they know what you intend to do and when you ride at the pace of the surrounding traffic flow, you increase your safety and are less likely to be involved in an incident.
Signal your intentions well in advance so as to give other vehicles sufficient time to react.
Avoid making sudden changes of direction, such as lane changes or stops, without considering other vehicles. Better to miss a turn-off and come back later than to cause another vehicle to brake suddenly.
Just as bikes have advantages and limitations, so do cars, trucks and other forms of road vehicles. If you understand how car and truck drivers think, and if you understand the limitations of their vehicles, you can anticipate their possible behaviour and ride accordingly. Here are some examples:
A driver may change lanes on a multi-laned road if a space is available in a faster moving lane, so make sure you are visible to other drivers.
Truck drivers leave a bigger gap between themselves and the vehicle in front because it takes them longer to stop in an emergency, so do not use their gap.
Indicators sometimes don't cancel, brake lights might not be working. Always make sure you are using the "two second rule" to ensure that you have enough time to manoeuvre out of a potentially dangerous situation.
Because cars accelerate slower than bikes, it may take them longer to overtake the vehicle in front of them than you might anticipate. Overtaking is no time for guessing! It needs good, careful and safe judgement. If in doubt - don't!
Cars and trucks once committed to a change of direction can't alter course quickly.
Continuously anticipating the likely behaviour of other traffic allows you to plan alternatives to avoid any sudden danger.
All roads are different. Even the same road can change in minutes because of rain, oil spillage, different patterns of road use, roadworks, cattle or unexpected oncoming traffic. Bikes are more susceptible to changing conditions than cars. Experienced riders "read" the road and adapt their riding to suit. Some common situations to watch out for are:
Painted lines (pedestrian crossings, road marking lines) are more slippery than tar, especially when wet.
Motorcycles can be tricky to control on gravel, loose chippings or overbanding.
Kerbs, speed bumps, traffic calming measures all need to be watched.
Tarred roads can break up especially at their edges and heavy traffic can create unexpected potholes especially after periods of heavy rain. After a dry spell rain also causes very slippery conditions.
Manhole covers, steel plates, railway lines all need extra care.
Vehicles may leave oil and diesel on the road making it even more slippery when wet. This is especially important near junctions and on bends.
Changes in the colour of patches on the road ahead indicate a change of road surface conditions, so position your bike to avoid such patches.
Shiny tar becomes very slippery and is especially dangerous in wet conditions and during heatwaves. Decrease your speed and avoid if possible.
Ice and frost can be lethal, if in doubt avoid, delay or just don't ride, especially at night.
By using good observation skills, riders can adjust their speed and position on the road to suit the conditions.
The safest speed for bikes in traffic is generally the speed at which all other vehicles are travelling. The faster or slower you are travelling than other traffic, the greater chance that other road users won't see you. Always ride at a speed which is appropriate to the conditions.
Always bear in mind:
Remember: the faster you ride, the less time you have to take avoiding action and the harder you'll hit fixed objects.
Alcohol and other drugs (even cold and 'flu tablets) affect your ability to ride. They can make you clumsy and less careful than you might otherwise be - even though you think you are feeling great. Bikes require so much more skill and concentration to ride well that even a single drink within the legal limits can seriously stack the odds against you. Your crucial balancing skills and distance judgement are the first to suffer, long before you've realised it.
Young and inexperienced riders are very strongly advised to never, ever drink and ride. Even the most experienced riders should never exceed the legal limit. When you know you'll be drinking try either: not riding, get a lift or use public transport, staying at the place of the event; or making alternative transport arrangements. Remember it is best to plan ahead, rather than leave the decision to the last minute when your judgement may be impaired and alternative arrangements are more difficult to make.
Some drugs, over-the-counter remedies and prescribed drugs, especially when combined with alcohol, can have a disastrous affect. In 1996 out of 58 motorcycle fatalities, 26 were Single Vehicle Accidents - nothing and no one else was involved.. Effective training and sober riding can help avoid this happening again.
A bike in good condition allows you to trust its performance, letting you concentrate on the business of riding. A bike in good condition will have:
The more you know about your bike, the more predictable will be your riding. You learn more by:
Be careful when riding unfamiliar bikes. Mistakes are more likely to happen on bikes you're not used to.
Things to check before every ride: POWER = Petrol - Oil - Water - Electrics - Rubber
Every ride should be an opportunity to improve your skills. Safe, experienced riders will tell you that never a day passes without continuing to learn. Riders who think they know it all and have nothing more to learn are most at risk. Proper training, followed by experience and practise builds knowledge and confidence.
Though many machines are fitted with a pillion seat and footrests, this does not necessarily make for a safe and comfortable ride.
A vice-like grip neither helps handling nor inspires confidence from either party. The pillion seat on certain sporting machines is uncomfortable and at most potentially dangerous.
The extra weight of a pillion must be taken into account, some bikes can feel totally different. Suspension and tyre pressures may have to be adjusted to compensate to some degree for the added load on the machine. The pillion must sit still and close to the rider, aiding the riders control manoeuvring by leaning with the bike. Correctly carrying a passenger requires extra effort from the rider; a lot more thought and consideration. Being a passenger is the same. Its not safe perched on a high pillion seat bolt upright through a series of bends while the rider fights for control. The extra load makes the machine less nimble, decreases the power available, and increases the braking distance.
Remember:
A pillion unhappy with their first taste of biking is hardly likely to want to repeat the experience!
Luggage also requires thought as to the best place to put it. There is an area on all bikes known as; "the safety triangle" that is an area approximately between the front and rear wheel axles and the top of the riders head. The rider (logically) occupies most of this space but this give an idea of where weight is best placed. Well secured tank bag, suitable panniers, or a top box are (and in that order) the best ways to carry luggage.
Ride wearing an approved helmet that fits you correctly and is properly fastened at all times. Never use a helmet that has taken a hard knock, has been dropped, is second-hand (even if it looks good), or has a scratched or dark visor.
Wear good quality protective clothing - the only thing between you and the road is your clothing. Wear gloves at all times. Jeans and trainers may look cool but they are useless in an accident. Leathers and some suits made of hi-tech materials with built-in protection are best.
Remember luggage and pillion passengers alter the way your bike handles.
Riding courses are designed to help all kinds of riders:
Ask for a copy of MAG's Fact Sheet on Rider Training.
Good rain gear is often needed to avoid cold and fatigue leading to lack of concentration. Never be afraid to stop for a cup of coffee or to rest and warm up. Cold can slow down your reactions more than you think.
Helmets should always fit correctly. Remember that an incorrectly fastened helmet is useless and can even cause an accident. Never use a helmet that has taken a hard knock, is second-hand (even if it looks OK on the outside), or has a scratched or dark visor.
Remember luggage and pillion passengers alter the way your bike handles. This is particularly noticeable on small bikes and with inexperienced passengers.
You must have a valid motorcycle driving licence. Remember that a full licence is required to carry a pillion passenger, to ride on motorways and for travel outside the Republic of Ireland.
You must have insurance. In the end we all pay for the cost of accidents, in higher insurance costs and taxes. Insurance cover is compulsory.
Your machine must be registered, roadworthy and taxed for road use.
Essential further reading:
Know the Rules of the Road - you can get a copy for £2 from the Post Office. Don't guess the rules, get to know them. Our roads are so busy that it is vital we know and stick to the rules.
If you are serious about becoming a really good, safe rider and want to improve your skills, even if you cannot afford advanced training buy yourself a copy of "Motorcycle Roadcraft - the police rider's handbook" ISBN No: 0 - 11 - 341143 - X, available from Easons and other good bookshops.
FIRST AID is a practical subject which cannot be learned from a book, but only from someone who can show you how to do it and give you the opportunity to practise - in other words, learn it from one of the courses run by the ambulance brigades. However there are some things than anybody can deal with:
BLEEDING can be internal or external. There is not much you can do about internal bleeding in a crash situation, but external bleeding can usually be controlled by applying firm pressure with a clean cloth to the site where the bleeding is coming from, even if you only slow down the blood loss it may be enough to save somebody's life. Do not apply firm pressure to the head as the skull may be fractured. Bleeding from the head is usually copious and frightening looking, but is rarely life-threatening in itself. If blood is spurting out use just enough pressure to stop it.
BURNING - put out a fire on a person by dousing it with water or a blanket (non-inflammable). Pour water onto any part of a person which is actively burning. Drape a clean cloth over the burnt area to protect it from dirt. (DO NOT drape a cloth over the face).
MAG Ireland is grateful to Dr. Tom Farrell for the above advice.
MAG was formed in 1985 to promote and protect motorcycling in Ireland. MAG is in constant touch with Irish national and local government organisations, insurance companies, the motorcycle industry and other related concerns to represent the interests of Irish motorcyclists. MAG is a founding member of the Federation of European Motorcycling Associations, a powerful pan European motorcyclists lobby group.
MAG Ireland advocates the provision of accessible and affordable rider training.
MAG has arranged discounts for MAG members with ferry operators and many bike shops, and produces a quarterly magazine RoadRunner and a quarterly Motorcyclists' Touring Directory.
Above all MAG Ireland is there to ensure that biking is not constricted by ill-considered legislation and is there to protect your rights and freedom whether you ride a moped, scooter or motorcycle.
MAG Ireland is an entirely voluntary organisation dependent on the support of individual riders. This booklet is just one example of MAG Ireland's work on behalf of Irish riders.
Joining MAG Ireland can save you money and is a way of putting something back into motorcycling.
Your bike, your pride and joy is a very tempting proposition to the criminal fraternity. It can quickly disappear into the back of a van, it can be lifted over the fence out of your back garden, it can be broken down and the parts sold off in less time than it takes to read this booklet.
There are a wide variety of anti-theft devices available:
Several hundred bikes a year are stolen in Ireland, never again to be seen. Make sure yours is not one of them.
1 800 25 00 25 - The Free Phone Line that Fights Motor-Bike Crime.
Crimestoppers is an anonymous, freephone crime fighting service that has already begun to make a real impact in the effort to reduce levels of crime. The initiative is now resulting in thousands of pounds worth of stolen property being recovered. Cash rewards have already been paid out for information that leads to arrests and charges being brought. All this bears out the simple message behind the service - if you have information about any crime you can call Crimestoppers at 1 800 25 00 25.
If you hear or see anything suspicious in relation to motor-bike theft, or any other crime, you can call Crimestoppers at 1 800 25 00 25 and pass on the information and remain anonymous at the same time. Crimestoppers doesn't want to know your name, it just wants your information - and they will even pay you a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest and charge.
Send off for a copy of MAG Ireland's Anti-theft Fact Sheet.
CREDITS:
| Photography: | Tom Kelly |
| Design: | Phil Murphy |
| Print: | Spectrum Print Management |
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, with the permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. No information contained in this publication can be used in any other directory or mailing list.
Copyright © MAG Ireland, 1998