Highways England has produced a new tongue-in-cheek video, highlighting to young powered two wheeler riders the consequences of not wearing protective clothing.
The video, which has had more than 143k views on Facebook, cleverly explains to young riders why not wearing the right gear could ‘cost more than you think’.
The video centres around a spoof pop-up shop, called ‘Distressed’, which appears to feature a new range of trendy clothing for young scooter and motorcycle riders.
Once a customer has settled on an item, the shop assistant reveals the ‘cost’ of being involved in a collision while wearing it – for example ‘broken ribs, a punctured lung and three nights on life support’.
The shop assistant asks: “Do you think it’s worth that cost?”
The Distressed range – marketed as ‘inspired by young riders’ – turns out to be items worn by riders involved in collisions.
Category: Motorcyclists.
My first reponse to this was as a devil’s advocate in that I said that I thought that training a motorcyclists in the skills of safe and defensive riding was more important than the need to wear protective clothing (other than that required by law that is). Its interesting that some 28 readers disagreed with that statement and obviously were of the opinion that protective clothing is more important than training riders to ride with greater safety.
Put another way if its costs about £300 to kit out a rider with clothing, boots and gloves etc would it not be fair to say that some of that monies would have been better spent on a full blown course on how not to get themelves into a situation where such clothing would have to be necessary.
I have been riding for over 55 years and know that some riders believe themselves to be invincible once that they have paid in the region of £1000 or so for full racing leathers that are the same colour as their pocket rockets. But what do I know…….
Bob Craven Lancs
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Sandy: I think Bob Craven has already acknowledged the sentiment in your last sentence, when he emphasised the need for training for defensive riding i.e. avoiding other’s mistakes or the unskilled 99%, as you put it. It’s the key to survival on our roads.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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Statistically some 60% of accidents at roundabouts, mini ones in particular involve a two wheeled vehicle so there must be something wrong there.
Further of the 70% (approx) of accident that happen in urban areas ie. within 5 miles of home some 47% are smidsys or similar where there is a conflict of vehicles emerging from side roads or crossroads. Perhaps I have been fortunate in that of over 55 years of riding motorcycles and scooters and a lot of mileage I have only ever suffered one such collision at a junction.
Maybe I was taught right? If so what’s going wrong with our instructions. Perhaps the answer is that the majority of newbies are not getting any or enough when it comes to their safety.
Bob Craven Lancs
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As a motorcycle instructor of 35 years plus, Advanced & Direct Access, it’s amazing to see comments about ‘better training’ stopping rider collisions? Most accidents happen near or at junctions at speeds of 30 or under. The great majority by other road users? You can be the best trained rider in the world, it means naught if you meet the most unskilled driver in the world or 99% of most car / van / truck / bus drivers.
Sandy Allan Aberdeen
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I entirely agree Pat. It’s much more than just getting into the right clothes, it’s getting motorcyclists into the right state of mind and that means training and experience. If not one’s own experience then that of other riders.
Bob Craven Lancs
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Bob, it is not an “either or choice” its both. Train learner motorcyclists in defensive riding skills and to wear the right gear – at least a decent jacket and gloves to protect against gravel rash. Accidents can happen to the best of us and some are 100% the other person’s fault. That’s life.
Pat, Wales
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If motorcyclists were trained right in the first place many of them would not need to wear such protective clothing. Why are we trying to mitigate their degree of injury instead of training them in the safest and most defensive way to ride. One in which they do not get themselves into such a situation in the first place where the only way is by becoming a casualty.
Bob Craven Lancs
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