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Motorcycle safety in May

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but the Middelburg Biking Council feel strongly that motorcycle safety awareness is not something that can be confined to a fixed time frame.

They want to ensure that the general public and motorcyclists are continually informed and kept up-to-date with the latest information on motorcycle safety.

Below are various examples of safety knowledge that could potentially save a life, shared by the chairman of the Middelburg Biking Club, Jakes Joubert.

Key aspects of motorcycle awareness include:

1. Understanding the limitations of motorcycles: Motorcycles have different handling capabilities and braking distances compared to larger vehicles. By acknowledging these differences, other road users can better anticipate and react to the actions of motorcyclists.

2. Recognising blind spots: Motorcycles are smaller and more easily overlooked, making them prone to disappearing in a driver’s blind spot. Road users should always double-check their mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or making turns.

3. Safe following distance: Maintaining a safe following distance is essential for preventing rear-end collisions, which can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists.

Five points for other road users to improve awareness of motorcycle riders:

1. Educate themselves: Road users should take the initiative to learn about motorcycle-specific safety issues, such as the unique challenges that motorcyclists face on the road. This understanding will help them become more mindful and considerate drivers.

2. Anticipate motorcyclist behaviour: By anticipating potential motorcycle movements, drivers can respond more effectively and safely. For example, motorcyclists may need to change lanes or position within a lane to avoid road hazards or to maintain visibility.

3. Use extra caution at intersections: A significant number of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. Road users should be extra vigilant when approaching or navigating intersections, always checking for motorcyclists before proceeding.

4. Give motorcycles space: When passing a motorcycle, other road users should allow plenty of space and avoid cutting them off. This helps to prevent dangerous situations and gives motorcyclists room to manoeuvre if necessary.

5. Spread awareness: Sharing information on motorcycle safety and awareness with friends, family, and colleagues, can have a ripple effect, increasing overall awareness and improving road safety for everyone

Should the public like to get involved in charity events, initiatives and programmes, or if they have any motorcycling safety questions, they can contact Jakes Joubert on 083 769 7480 or Stefan Pretorius, the vice chairman of the MBC, on 083 226 3978.

At Caxton, every story is written by humans. We use AI only to perform quality checks - never to generate the news. Happy reading!

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Sjani Campher

Sjani has been working as a community journalist and photographer at the Middelburg Observer since 2018, during which she has been responsible for the content creation for both digital and print, as well as maintaining the publication's online platforms. She is a member of the Forum for Community Journalists, and focuses on fields including hard news, investigative reporting, human interest, columns and sports.
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