Lowvelder stalwart TJ Maré injured in motorcycle accident, emphasises importance of protective gear
TJ Maré was recently injured while riding his motorcycle on the R38. He said he would have been more seriously injured had he not been wearing his protective kit at the time of the incident.
Well-known in the Lowveld for cleaning pavements and fixing potholes, TJ Maré is currently recovering in hospital following a motorcycle accident involving a pothole on the R38.
Maré, the founder of We Care 4 Nelspruit, sustained moderate internal injuries to his lower back and hip, but said he avoided more serious injuries as he had been wearing a full kit of motorcycle protective gear, including gloves, boots, pants, jacket and helmet.
Speaking to Lowvelder from hospital, he said had been riding his motorcycle with a small team along the R38 Badplaas/Barberton road on Tuesday March 21 at 13:00 when the front wheel of his bike hit a deep pothole.
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“There were two potholes in the road. I avoided the one, but hit the other. The front wheel collapsed and I went sliding,” said Maré.
He said he was travelling at 93km/h when the accident occurred. “I am always fully kitted in protective biking gear, and my injuries would have been much worse if I had not been wearing it. It is so important to always wear the protective kit wherever you ride. I see many people riding motorcycles around Mbombela dressed in shorts and plakkies. People say it is because the Lowveld is so hot, but when riding a bike, you dress for the hit, not the heat,” he said.
“I thank God I was not more seriously injured. It is expected I will be discharged from hospital tomorrow, March 24. I will be back on my motorcycle as soon as the doctors say I am fit enough to do so.”
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As for the potholes, Maré said he has been driving a campaign to fix potholes across Mbombela for many months, and that if the pothole on the R38 has not been fixed by the time he is out of hospital and healed, he will go back and fix it himself.
The Lowveld Motorcycle Safety Initiative (LMSI) also posted about the accident on its Facebook page, emphasising the importance of safety gear. LMSI’s Johan du Plessis said the initiative also noticed daily that many riders in Mbombela were travelling on their motorcycles without the proper gear. “We strongly recommend that people wear the correct gloves, helmets, boots, jackets and pants made especially for motorcyclists,” he said. “People need to take heed of TJ’s testimony as to why this is so important.”
He also urged riders to be more aware of the road conditions in Mpumalanga. “Besides potholes, there are also cattle and goats roaming some roads. The area is also known for its timber trade and there are many trucks crossing the roads, and there is often debris left in the road. Riders are cautioned to slow down and enjoy the scenery and take note of the road conditions. The only barrier between you and the road is your gear,” he said.
He urged all riders to attend training on how take evasive action and avoid serious accidents while riding.
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Visit the LMSI’s website on www.lmsi.co.za to find out more about this training, or visit the Facebook page Lowveld Motorcycle Safety Initiative.
Lowvelder sent a media query to Sanral. Its comment will be added to the story once it has responded.
