Letters to the editor

Show more courtesy to motorcyclists

- I refer to P. McCormack’s letter, Dangerous manoeuvres (September 27).

Being both a motorist of 56 years and a motorcyclist of 57 years, I would like to submit a more balanced view.

I sympathise with Mr McCormack in light of his experience on the A85 and I do agree that more needs to be done on this particular road towards controlling dangerous driving by both motorists and motorcyclists.

It just so happens that I decided last Thursday to travel on my new bike up the A85 to The Green Welly stop at Tyndrum.

There were also many motorcyclists on the road, most of which did overtake on bends (with clear views up the road ) and some idiots I admit, did overtake on blind bends.

When sitting on a motorcycle you sit higher up than the average car driver and you can see further up the road.

Many motorists grossly underestimate what a motorcyclist can see sitting higher up and the accelerating ability of modern, powerful motorcycles.

The problem is that there are motorcyclists (as well as motorists) who are prepared to take life-threatening risks.

On this particular day, I witnessed a dark red BMW attempt to overtake myself in a line of traffic just after sitting at a roadworks.

As I accelerated after the traffic lights in front of the traffic queue, he tried to overtake me which forced me to brake hard as we were both approaching a blind bend with him on the wrong side of the road.

Had I not decided to brake, this idiot could have come in contact with me.

I moved back to the Dundee area just over three years ago following a 38-year absence and I find the general standard of driving from motorists in the region is very poor and, therefore, find it mystifying why there are not more road accidents in the area.

I think it is long overdue that motorists in general display a bit more courtesy to motorcyclists, especially in urban areas, and be much more alert to motorcyclists on motorways by not just only looking into their rear-view mirrors but also having a good look into their driver’s door side mirror.