Campaign encourages bikers to go easy on ‘lefthanders’

12.00 | 7 April 2015 | | 7 comments

A new campaign has been launched to highlight the need for bikers to negotiate left-hand bends safely, on the back of statistics which show that one in three motorbike fatalities occur on these bends.

‘Live Fast Die Old’ has been developed by Road Safety Scotland and the Scottish Government, in support of engagement activity carried out by Police Scotland.

The campaign includes a short fun film showing older bikers enjoying themselves and living life to the full, while also taking it easy on left-hand bends, or ‘lefthanders’. The film has been released on the Police Scotland YouTube channel.

The campaign Facebook page will contain advice from experts and fellow bikers, along with YouTube videos and tips on biking techniques, and route recommendations.

The campaign is aimed primarily at male bikers aged 40-49 years who comprise 20% of all bikers in Scotland but account for 30% of KSIs.

Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “Roughly one biker dying every weekend during the biker season is totally unacceptable, and our aim is to make such a statistic a thing of the past.

“Police Scotland analysis shows that the 40-49 age group are the most likely to be killed than any other age group, and the Live Fast Die Old campaign reminds bikers there are simple steps they can take to keep themselves and other bikers safe this summer whilst still enjoying being out on the road.”

Chief superintendent Iain Murray, from Police Scotland, said: “The Live Fast Die Old campaign is a fantastic opportunity for us to talk directly to bikers, encouraging them to enjoy the season while thinking about the safety aspects of their ride. Ultimately living fast and dying old.”

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    Adding my own support to Niel’s comments as an ardent motorcyclist I to feel that not enough is being done to help alleviate the dangers to two wheeled vehicles on our country roads. Whilst I agree that a motorcyclists should look out for himself he is given far less training than many other road users.

    Further where there is debris, and that includes loose aggregate ie chippings, when a complaint is made the local authority should act upon it and not just dismiss it as normal road surface wear and tear. All the road safety mags and books, including The Bible, the police Roadcraft manual, recognise grit, aggregate or chippings as being extrememly dangerous to any and all two wheeled vehicles and that includes cycles.


    Bob Craven Lancs…Space is Safe Campaigner
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    Running wide, or sliding wide due to derv or debris is a major factor in this, locally where the agricultural contractors have been the roads are covered with both, and on left handers its spread right across the lane. Following one last week on the A32 the tractor driver was two feet across the double white lines to keep the sprayer tank trailer on the road, both tractor and trailer were narrower than the lane markings width, but the trailer was tracking 2-3 feet left of the tractor at the axle! Time the mud and muck road edge damagers got pulled up and dealt with too…


    Niel
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    If it is aimed at the 40-49 age group primarily…..those three had a tough paper round!


    Olly, Lancs
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    I believe that the Advanced training that motorcyclists get doesn’t help when it comes to left handed bends. Chasing the Vanishing Point which is over on the far side of the road, where the nearside meets the offside. This gives a false indication of the distance seen in relation to the actual visible point on the nearside of any tight bend where there are obstructions to vision due to trees or shrubs, hedging or walls etc.

    The VP may be 50/60 ft away but the distance seen to be clear on one’s own side of the road could in some circumstances be as little as 15 or 20 ft. A big difference. If one drives or rides by that 1st principle that one should ride at a speed in which one can stop in the distance seen to be clear and not over the other side of the road then many lives would be saved. Rather than riding a left hander and only chasing the VP.


    Bob Craven Lancs… Space is safe Campaigner
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    Sorry I have to say that Living Fast is not for me. It reeks of unnecessary speed. How about “Live Slower Live Longer” campaign?

    Doesn’t quite sound the same, not as catchy but I would like to see how this one pans out. Hopefully worthwhile.


    Bob Craven Lancs…Space is Safe Campaigner
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    Love the guys in the video clip – I feel young again, but more so.

    Not sure I agree with gazing at tangent points, I’m usually looking further ahead than that – always have done. And then again I’ve seldom gone out for a flat out blast anywhere.


    Derek Reynolds, Salop.
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    And if they would like to know why, then this Blog post will help.

    http://nosurprise.org.uk/2015/03/09/why-do-riders-crash-in-corners/


    Duncan MacKillop. No surprise – No accident.
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