MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG – A large number of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at the Mahikeng Stadium in Mmabatho last weekend, where they witnessed an exciting display of motorbike riding offered by various motorcyclists.
The event was the Motorcycle Road Safety Training session hosted by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) initiative held under the theme “Motorcyclists Matter on Our Roads”. The SANRAL Road Safety initiative showcased the critical need for heightened roads safety awareness among all users - particularly motorcyclists.
In a pre-event statement, SANRAL said recognising disproportionate risk faced by motorcyclists compared to motorists, the roads safety agency was committed to filling the gap in road safety education.
The road safety agency’s mandate extends to ensuring that safety messages were comprehensively disseminated and that robust safety education is promoted across the nation.
At the event, concerned by the increasing high number of motorcycle accidents on the country’s roads, the Motorcycle Institute of South Africa (MISA) highlighted that inappropriate speed was a significant factor in motorcycle crashes.
Other frequent crashes, as highlighted by Sfiso Thema of MISA include right-of-way violations, ae caused by loss of control on bends or curves and errors in judgement at low speed, due to poor bike-handling skills or loss of concentration.
Addressing the group of motorcyclists, Themba highlighted the importance of being vigilant on the roads at all times and not to undermine the speed of their bikes. He also called on bikers to avoid the urge to compete on the roads, especially when they don’t know the conditions of the road they are travelling on. Most of these roads are either slippery (especially during rain), while others can be rough and bumpy. Road surface is an important part of any ride and this, bikers must always be aware of.
He called on bikers to avoid competing on the roads which he said was the down fall of most bikers. Bikers were also advised to always know and understand their bikes and how fast their bikes can go.The training session also addressed essential aspects of educating motorcyclists about the importance of regular and safety training; educating motorists about the responsible operation of a motorcycle on the road; the importance of wearing proper gear on the roads and encouraging vigilance among all road users to look out for motorcycles, including informing motorcyclists about defensive riding techniques on the road.
SANRAL spoke to several of the bikers who attended the training session. All welcomed the session recognising that as roads are a shared space, SANRAL’s initiative is a crucial step towards making South Africa’s roads safer for everyone.
