Safe riding

As motorcyclists, we enjoy the freedom and sense of adventure that riding a motorcycle provides; not many other road users can say that. From my first venture on a moped in 1976, through to riding my BMW GSA today, which is 48 years later, I have been all over the UK and in every European country on a bike. Over those tens of thousands of miles I have been fortunate enough to have avoided any major mishaps. For sure, I’ve had a spill or two along the way, but nothing too bad and fortunately nothing involving another vehicle.

I once hit a wire fence whilst riding my Honda 50 moped and landed in a field, narrowly missing a great big dollop of cow dung.  On my other ‘mishap,’ I opened the taps of my Honda Blackbird when crossing a white line in the wet, and high sided before hitting the wall of a cottage hospital. I broke my collarbone on landing, so maybe I should avoid riding Hondas!

Other than those two self-inflicted moments of madness and inattention, I have fortunately managed to stay in contact with my bikes, albeit after a few close calls in my ‘mad’ years.  I’ve done 186 mph on a Kawasaki ZZR1400, I’ve had a few enforced hard braking events, and I’ve squeezed between traffic after daft overtakes on more than one occasion, but as I get older, and particularly since joining Motorcycle Law Scotland 5 years ago, I have put all that stupid behaviour behind me.

In my role as Head of Legal Support at Motorcycle Law Scotland, I am exposed to many Personal Injury cases and in them I see the devastating results of serious road traffic collisions involving our client bikers. I either note or read their sobering statements, I interview their devastated friends and family, or I speak to the independent witnesses and Police officers involved. Sometimes, I visit the collision locations or interpret Police Reports to try to figure out what has happened. All of these activities have had an effect on me, and one of them is to make me much more cautious when I am driving my car or when I am out riding my bike.

I have learned to pay much more attention to all my surroundings; to look well ahead and anticipate, to be on high alert when I see vehicles sitting at junctions up ahead. I now take a few miles per hour off my speed until I am absolutely sure that the wheels of those vehicles are not turning. I don’t look at the drivers eyes, because they don’t tell me the vehicle is about to come out in front of me. Instead, I cover my brakes and watch the wheels. Nowadays, I take note of vehicles parked facing me in lay-bys, just in case they are being driven by a foreign driver who comes out onto my side of the road. I can now resist the temptation to use the power I have to overtake slower traffic, unless I am 100% sure that it is  completely safe to do so, and I never overtake at or near to a junction. I continually check my mirrors, do lifesavers and do not sit right behind slower vehicles in front of me anymore, because I realise they could brake, turn, or do something else that is totally unpredictable. I now want to have as much time as possible to react, so I hang back. I also think more about me being seen by other drivers, so my road position and clothing are uppermost in my mind. I’m very aware that I am vulnerable.

In Scotland, we’re blessed with wide open spaces. There are so many brilliant and open roads where visibility is second to none. There are still plenty of opportunities to look well ahead, to anticipate what others might do, then push on and ride to the speed limits, as long as doing so is safe and I am within my capabilities. In wet or damp conditions, I think about avoiding painted lines, drain covers and wet leaves. I’m also alert and on the lookout for other substances on the road surface, such as gravel, mud, or diesel. In doing all of these things, I cannot guarantee that I will not come a cropper due to the actions of others, but I feel much more in control of own destiny.

My relatives know that I have measures in place should the unthinkable happen. A Power of Attorney, a Will, Insurance, banking details and passwords are all in one location. My other important information is also sorted, and it’s all easily accessible to my family. It’s all stored alongside the Motorcycle Law Scotland fridge magnet with the 03335557782 number to call. My wife and children know not to deal with my Insurer’s solicitors, but to call Motorcycle Law Scotland for expert advice and support.

So, am I now a slow and boring motorcyclist? I hope not, my mates don’t think I am, and I would like to think you would not consider that if we went out for a run. What I strive to be is safer and more controlled, confident and progressive, but far from cocky. I probably enjoy my bike runs more now than ever before and I have written this in the hope that you take some of it on board and look after yourselves. Ride safe, and maybe some day we can meet up to compare notes and have a blast.

Ewen Stewart