Emotive subject

Motorway riding is not exactly what biking dreams are made of. It is, however, where we usually tend to find ourselves when big miles need to be covered swiftly. And boring as the riding may be, there is always something to break the monotony.

One such thing is spying what people do in their cars. Although I’m not sure I want to do it too often, it’s usually not a pretty sight!

On a recent motorway ride I witnessed a worrying number of drivers paying almost no attention to what was happening around them. Some were eating and drinking; others were chatting to/arguing with their passengers; and a scarily large number of drivers were on their smartphones, doing everything from talking and texting to actually taking selfies. Yikes!

When you ride a motorcycle on a multi-lane carriageway and people in the cars around you are more interested in updating their social media networks (‘I’m stuck in traffic. Again. LOL’) than concentrating on driving, it makes you think. Although, mostly it gives you visions of them casually killing you with their absentmindedness.

Somewhere in the grey area between fear and anger I wondered whether us bikers are any better than car drivers. The traditional argument is that we are more aware of our surroundings because we are more exposed to them – and probably because the changes in that environment can have more serious consequences for us than those travelling in their protective metal bubbles.

But are we really more aware of what’s going on? I can honestly say that I haven’t ever tried to have beans on toast while riding. I do, however, often listen to music and satnav directions. Does that affect my concentration? The truth is, I’m not sure. I still feel like I am in full control, but am I just kidding myself?

I recently touched on this in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure magazine, and the letters from our readers suggest that the motorcycling public is very much divided over this topic.

I wonder if drivers are as divided about what is acceptable behaviour behind the wheel?

‘‘ I wo nder if drivers are as d ivided about what is acceptable behaviour behind the wheel as bikers, who traditionally are more aware of their surroundings