There isn’t one among us who isn’t painfully aware of the need for increased awareness of motorcyclists from every road user, including the motorcyclists themselves. In South Africa, the ThinkBike Road Safety Campaign works tirelessly to improve such awareness and they do this through various initiatives and platforms.
Possibly the most important and far-reaching of these is the Motorcycle Awareness Month which, in 2023, will be taking place in April, and not its usual month of May, which traditionally coincides with the start of the spring and summer riding months in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is to include the African Bike Week that takes place on the South Coast of KZN from 28-30 April.
Motorcycle Awareness Month is intended to reinforce the need for road safety, and to promote motorcycling as a lifestyle choice and as an economic enabler. You can support the initiative by simply wearing or displaying a yellow ThinkBike badge/sticker on your clothing or your vehicle.
Motorcycle Awareness Month (“MAM”) reminds all road users that although safe riding practices are the primary responsibility of every motorcyclist, safe road use and cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of motorcycling fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roads. During Motorcycle Awareness Month and in the months that follow, we encourage you to:
- Promote motorcycle safety tips on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms.
- Become involved in your community, club, chapter, ride group, school, or road safety groups to promote motorcycle safety.
- Host a training day or rider skills workshop in your area.
- Display an MSI/THINK BIKE decal on your vehicle/s – you can order decals HERE or get them from your nearest bike shop.
- Use the MAM social media in your emails and video conference background – available for free. These can be downloaded HERE.
Sadly, there is a deep-seated impression that motorcycling is risky. While that’s true, safety when riding is a two-way street. Motorcyclists must, of course, practice safe riding habits. But it doesn’t absolve everyone else on the road of their responsibilities. Everyone on the road is responsible for safety – passenger cars, trucks, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. It may not be motorcyclists who need the awareness education. Still, it may be motorcyclists who, by setting an example through safe and responsible riding, can provide that education to the other road users we depend on to keep us safe every time we get on the road. The awareness that a motorcyclist promotes may keep that rider – or another – safe from a serious or fatal collision. That is why Motorcycle Awareness is important to you, us, and all motorcyclists in South Africa.
The steps to being a safer rider are easy and intuitive: increasing following distances; using the brakes and not simply the engine braking so the brake light comes on; being cautious at intersections and not assuming other road users have seen you; ensuring you are not riding in another vehicle’s blind spot; practising the “life-saver” look over your shoulder and generally taking your safety into your own hands and not expecting everyone else to look out for you.
We all know the benefits of riding a motorcycle – decreased congestion and journey times, not to mention improved mental health: now more than ever an important element of a healthy lifestyle. The safer we can demonstrate that we motorcyclists can be, the more people will take up motorcycling. More bikes sold means a healthier motorcycling industry in South Africa. The healthier the industry, the less likelihood there will be of some manufacturers disappearing from the country.
We can all play a part in this and we can start with Motorcycle Awareness Month. Should you or your organisation see your way open to participating and supporting this initiative, please indicate your interest by completing the no-obligation online form or contacting the MAM ’23 Project Manager directly.
Quinton van Eeden Senior Marshal / MAM ’23 Project Manager at 082 457 3254 or [email protected]
