WATCH OUT FOR BANK HOL BIKES
»»Gardai urge extra »»Surge in deaths caution on our roads of motorcyclists
DRIVERS have been urged to be aware of motorcyclists this May bank holiday weekend as fatalities of bikers have soared.
Eleven people were killed on motorbikes in the past four months, compared to 22 deaths in all of 2021, figures show.
Gardai and the Road Safety Authority yesterday made the appeal to motorists as hundreds of thousands take to the roads in the coming days – with many travelling long distances.
Motorcycles represent less than 2% of vehicles used in Ireland, however, worryingly they accounted for one-fifth of fatalities so far this year, figures show.
And bikers have been urged by gardai to slow down as the road users make up half of their top speed detections, with many travelling at more than
160kph. Garda Adrian Corcoran of the DMR Roads Policing Unit at Dublin Castle, said: “I think in general motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable groups of road users out there.
“I would also appeal to car drivers and drivers of all other vehicles this weekend and throughout the summer to be aware of motorcyclists.
“Take an extra couple of seconds pulling out of a junction or turning right and make sure there’s no motorcycle there.
“Of the speed detections that we have carried out this year, out of the very high speeds, half of them were motorcyclists, some of them travelling in excess of 160kph.
“So, I would appeal to motorcyclists this weekend and all over the summer months to ease off the throttle and drive within the speed limits.”
Five motorcyclists were killed in March alone and gardai yesterday appealed to road users to be more vigilant and safety conscious.
If the rate of motorcyclist fatalities continues at the current pace there will be 33 deaths by the end of this year, compared to 22 such deaths in 2021.
Last year, motorcyclists represented 13% of those who suffered serious injuries on our roads and there had been 10 motorcyclist deaths by the end of April of last year.
Garda Corcoran added: “This May bank holiday weekend would traditionally be the start of the motorcycle season.
“The bikes will be out again this weekend and I’m urging them to make sure that their motorcycle is in roadworthy condition, the tyres, the brakes, the chain, all that is checked over.
“And that they themselves wear proper PPE [Personal Protective Equipment], a good quality helmet.
“Something we’ve seen at collisions is people don’t fasten their helmet properly sometimes and I’m urging them there’s no point spending a large amount of money on a helmet if it’s not properly fastened.
“Be visible, drive with a dipped headlight on, a high visibility jacket is a good idea as well and it makes you more visible to other road users.”
Meanwhile, Stefan Auler, regional manager of driver testing with the Road Safety Authority, said: “The message is basically for all motorists to watch out for each other.
“With the longer days you will see more and more traffic on the roads now.”
Mr Auler, who is a keen motorcyclist himself, added: “We are very vulnerable on the roads, we have no bumpers, we have no doors.
“When we hit something it’s the bones and then our head.
“Drivers should always assume motorcyclists are closer than they appear.”