Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to motorcyclists to slow down due to the high number of motorbike fatalities seen this year.
The message from Gardaí and the RSA is to ease off the throttle and keep within the speed limits and to always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
Drivers are being urged to watch out for motorcyclists, especially at junctions, and to check their blind spots.
There have been eight motorcyclists killed in road traffic collisions so far this year. At the time this appeal was issued on Friday, that number stood at six.
However, yesterday alone there were two motorcycle riders killed in traffic collisions in Meath and Monaghan, one of which was a single vehicle incident, and one involving the collision of a car and motorcycle.
Mr. Stephen Murphy of the RSA said “As motorcyclists we are among the most vulnerable of road users because we have very little protection in the event of a collision.”
“However, we can help reduce our vulnerability by taking some simple steps such as wearing the appropriate PPE and high visibility clothing to make ourselves visible to other road-users.”
“It is also extremely important to show restraint and reduce speed, and never ever ride a motorcycle under the influence of an intoxicant.”
“As we enter the summer months, when we typically see higher numbers of motorcyclists on our roads, I am asking all fellow motorcyclists, to take these necessary steps to protect themselves as much as possible when out biking.”
Crash research shows that the four main causal factors that contribute to fatal motorcycle crashes are:
- A motorcyclist overtaking another vehicle turning right, resulting in the motorcyclist colliding head on into the side of the turning vehicle.
- A motorcyclist colliding head on with an oncoming vehicle while the motorcycle was overtaking a vehicle.
- A motorcyclist losing control while taking a corner / bend and crossing into the path of an oncoming vehicle resulting in a head on collision.
- Another vehicle (car, van, truck) turning or driving through a junction / joining a main road from a minor road and colliding with a motorcyclist.
