As motorcycle deaths escalate, president of the Trinbago Motorcycle Riders Association, Keith Kirk, is appealing to all clubs to provide safety training for their members.
Kirk, who is also the vice-president of the Freedom Riders Club in Laventille, said eight people had already died in motorcycle crashes for this year.
He said most such fatalities in T&T involved young riders who learnt about riding by watching YouTube videos.
In an interview on Thursday, Kirk said his club invited riders to participate in safety training sessions on Saturdays but many refused to spend their weekends in that way. He said while it could be difficult for motorists to see motorcyclists in their mirrors and calculate their speed, drivers needed to understand that everyone must share the road.
He called on Government to partner with them to erect billboards that urge drivers to look out for motorcycle riders.
His comments came in the wake of two recent deaths, involving experienced riders Lex Chunilal and Clarence Smythe, within the last week.
“The main key to it is education. The young ones coming up need to be educated on the dangers of these bikes. The same way you would not play with a gun, you’re not supposed to play with a bike. Most of deaths that are taking place on the nation’s roads are people who now start, but this week was totally different because these riders had a certain amount of experience, although they were more into the speed.
“There are a lot of riders like myself who have ‘been there, done that’ and we tend to take precautions on the road. Safety gear and awareness of other vehicles on the road are important as well. Sometimes you can’t blame these drivers because it’s hard for someone to look through a side mirror and estimate the speed a rider is travelling.
“He or she might turn, thinking that the rider is far away. Riders cannot only ride for themselves but they have to ride while being aware that a vehicle could switch lanes and turn in front of them. In all, riders need to cut down on excessive speed once there are vehicles around. There are also not enough signs around reminding people about the awareness of riders and at the end of the day, it is the life of a brother, father, son or sister being lost,” Kirk said.
He said that there were also some reckless riders, which the association had no control over. He said all riders should seek to join the association by attending their meetings which are held on the first Tuesday of every month at Freedom Riders Club House, opposite House of Angostura, along the Eastern Main Road, Laventille.
Share the road
The T&T Police Service (TTPS) is also reminding motorists they must share the roadways with others users and appealed to motorcyclists to be vigilant on the road. Expressing concern in a release yesterday, the TTPS said eight motorcyclists had already been killed in 2015, one less than the total for 2014.
The TTPS reminded drivers of motor vehicles that they shared the road with other road users including motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians who also have the right of lawful use of the roadways.
“At the same time we wish to make a special appeal to all motorcyclists to always be vigilant to the fact that they are operating in a roadway system where there are many variables of risk which they cannot control, thus it is imperative that defensive riding practices be a standard procedure,” the release stated.
They also noted that the World Health Organisation classifies motorcyclists as “vulnerable” road users as injuries sustained in collisions often involve severe trauma, including broken bones; internal haemorrhaging; severed limbs; spine, cranial and brain damage, which frequently result in death. They also stated that 95 people have died in road accidents for the year so far.
Safety tips
Obey speed limits
Helmets are mandatory by law
Never overtake at high-risk areas, intersections or where there are solid
or double solid lines on the road.
Wear bright colours both during the day and night
Always assume the driver has not seen you or you are in his or her blind spot
Reduce your speed just in case a driver has not seen you
Invest in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Practise the “lifesaver” manoeuvre