|
Shock Tactics Fail to Put The Brakes on Bike Deaths From Scotland
Proposals aimed at raising rider standards JAMES MORGAN IT is a stark statistic which doesn’t so much speak for itself - It screams. Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely to be killed on the road than car users.
However, according to research carried out for the Scottish Executive, though bikers are all too well aware of the risk they run. It wouldn't them from giving up Thus, road safety adverts which use shock tactics to highlight the risks to motorcyclists have been deemed as having little effect on bikers behaviour.
Now an executive report is calling for a fundamental switch of emphasis to drive down the rising number of motorcycle fatalities.
Those shock adverts look set to be abandoned in favour of a new advanced rider's qualification and a publicity campaign aimed at raising riding standards.
The thrust of the report, "Risk and motorcyclists", emerged yesterday - just hours after police revealed details of yet another motorcycle death on a Scottish road.
Jason George, aged 32, from Kirkwall, died on Sunday when his bike crashed in Orkney. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.
Under the new scheme bikers will be encouraged to appreciate the pleasure of 'a smooth ride with no surprise".
In addition, a new 'pass plus" advanced rider's licence scheme may be introduced to encourage safer riding.
The report was commissioned in response to the rising number of motorcycling fatalities.
In 2004. there were 986 motorcyclist casualties- on Scottish roads of which 389 were either killed or seriously injured. Per mile travelled motorcyclists are 25 times more at risk of being killed in a road traffic accident than car users and five times more likely to be killed than cyclists.
Peak ages are between 20 and 29, but the biggest rise in deaths hat been in the "born-again" age group, 30 to 69.
In the executive study, researchers surveyed mow than 300 motorcyclists and carried out in-depth interviews with 120. They found that most motorcyclists were familiar with the dangers they face on the road, and would not consider giving up because of them.
Adverts which use shock tactics would therefore have little effect on driver behaviour, the report concluded.
Instead, the authors recommend a campaign focusing on "the promotion of "safe goals for motorcycling – for example, smoothness and safety rather than speed and progress".
“In effect this would recognise the importance of riding for pleasure as a goal, but seek to encourage people to obtain this pleasure from other facets of riding.'' says the report
The executive should also encourage more pre and post test training, to encourage riders to develop their skills.
"An equivalent of the Pass Plus scheme for bikers could be considered, as could an extended BikeSafe scheme, an NVQ qualification or training via RoSPA" they say.
The proposals were welcomed by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the motorcyclists' association, MAG, but both warned that changing riders' attitudes would be "a difficult task".
Elizabeth Lumsden. RoSPA road safety manager for Scotland, said a "pass plus" scheme would not be enough on its own.
“There are already advanced motorcycling courses out there, the problem is that there has been a lack of takeup
'Many accidents occur when older drivers go back to the bike If the campaign could encourage them to undergo further training it would be a success”
Steve Wykes. 48, an experienced rider, and the Scottish representative of MAG said: "The report recognises the importance of changing attitudes and goals as well as improving driving skills.
“But with many riders, an advertising campaign alone will have a limited effect" "Promoting safety as a goal may be a bit naive There may be some sections of the motorcycling community that will simply not respond.”
He called for motorcycling to be integrated into urban transport strategy.
"We must remember that in 40% of motorcycle accidents are principally the fault of other road users. "We must take an holistic approach to reducing them. If you wanted to reduce the number of pedestrians killed you wouldn't just focus on pedestrians."
MAG has been involved In a pilot test of a new advanced drivers' scheme. Bike Plus held in Perth and Kinross.
The scheme, the equivalent of the Pass Plus driving test focuses on road skills and experience.
Trevor Baird, of MAG. said: "We have told the executive that we are very much in favour of that being adopted throughout the country. "Accident risk relates to experience not to age. So a scheme that reward's experience has got to be a good thing.''
|
