If you’re thinking about getting a bike for the road, it’s relevant to know that motorcycling offers unparalleled freedom and exhilaration, which makes it an attractive choice for many riders. However, with that freedom comes significant responsibility. In 2024, 340 motorcyclists were killed in Great Britain, with an average of six motorcyclists dying every week. Whilst these statistics are sobering, following fundamental safety principles can reduce your risk on the road. Here’s a straightforward four-point checklist every motorcyclist should master.
1. Master “Be Seen” Visibility
The biggest danger facing motorcyclists is other road users failing to see you, often leading to common accidents at junctions. Your focus must be on making your presence unavoidable on the road. Always use your dipped headlights, even during the day, as this increases your visibility to other drivers. Ride in the safest part of your lane, where you’re less likely to be obscured by vehicles ahead and where you command attention from surrounding traffic. Wearing brightly coloured or reflective gear, including helmets and jackets, provides high contrast against the road and surrounding traffic, making you instantly noticeable. Government statistics reveal that ‘ineffective observation’ is the most common road safety factor allocated to both motorcyclists and other vehicles in fatal or serious collisions, highlighting just how critical visibility is to your survival on the road.
2. Sharpen Your Hazard Perception
Constantly anticipate the mistakes of others, especially at known high-risk points. Assume you have not been seen until a driver makes eye contact or clearly yields. A big part of motorcycle fatalities occurred at junctions, making these intersections, roundabouts, and side roads critical danger zones where you must be ultra-alert. Watch the front wheels and body language of cars near you, not just their indicators, to predict sudden movements. Indicators can be misleading or forgotten, but a car’s wheels and the driver’s positioning tell the real story. Always maintain a generous braking distance from the vehicle in front, giving you more time to react to unexpected stops or swerving. This buffer zone becomes your safety margin when conditions deteriorate or when another road user makes an unpredictable manoeuvre.
3. Gear Up for Serious Protection
Your safety equipment is your only protection against injury, making investment in high-quality gear non-negotiable for minimising the impact of a crash. Always wear a correctly fitted, approved safety helmet, and never wear one that has been damaged, as its protective properties are compromised. Wear CE-marked protective clothing, including a jacket, trousers, boots, and gloves designed to withstand abrasions and impacts. This gear reduces the severity of injuries like fractures and road rash, which are common in motorcycle accidents that aren’t your fault. Head and chest injuries remain the main cause of death for motorcyclists, but proper protective equipment can mean the difference between walking away from a collision and suffering life-changing injuries. Don’t compromise on quality because your gear is your last line of defence.
4. Control Your Overtaking and Filtering Pace
Overtaking and filtering through traffic are high-risk manoeuvres unique to motorbikes. Whilst filtering is legal in the UK, it must be executed with extreme caution and sound judgement. Only overtake when you have a clear, long view of the road ahead and never near junctions, bends, or hills where your view is compromised and where other vehicles might emerge unexpectedly. When filtering between lanes of slow or stationary traffic, keep your speed difference low. This gives you time to react if a car suddenly changes lanes, pulls out, or a passenger opens a door, creating the dangerous “dooring” risk. Be ready to take evasive action instantly. Remember, whilst you have every right to filter legally, other road users may not expect you, so defensive riding in these situations can save your life.
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