MOTOR-CYCLING RISKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 8

MOTOR-CYCLING RISKS

Last weekend was a bad one for the number of motor accidents that occurred, especially bad for the fatalities to motor-cyclists. Commenting on this aspect- today, the Minister of Transport (Mr. Semple) points out that more persons have been killed this month in motorcycle accidents than in all other traffic mishaps; and he adds that the accident figures for the last ten months show that motor-cyclists arc nearly three times as liable to injury as is the driver or passenger in the private car. This is borne out by statistics in other countries where the motor-cycle is widely used. One of the reasons for the abnormal mortality rate is, of course, the exposed position and unprotected state of the motor-cyclist which render him peculiarly liable to serious injury or worse-in event of a skid or collision. The management of a motor-cycle, capable^ of great speed and rapid acceleration, is also a matter of nerve, judgment, and skill probably greater than .what

are required in the average motorist to handle a car. In expert hands no doubt (ho molor-cycle is reasonably safe, as traffic officers and others demonstrate daily, but in control o( a tyro llic machine is oflcn highly dangerous. This is ihc point; made by Mr. Scmplc, who states that the average age of motor-cyclists and pillion riders killed between April 1 and December 31 last was 20 years. More than half those involved in motor-cycle accidents during that period had less than two years' riding experience, and many were in their teens and had been on their machines only a few months. On the other hand, the older riders had comparatively few accidcnls. Most people will agree witli the Minister that some provision will have to be made in the future for the education of the new rider in the proper use of the road. Only in this way, short of severe restriction?, can a reduction in the accident rate be expected.