OPINION
We all like to hate cyclists for being precious, self-righteous and over-full of their own entitlement. But there’s another group of road users very nearly as self-righteous and with a towering entitlement complex.
Motorcyclists.
You can hear the howls of outrage already. Because no one, not even cyclists, are as immune to self-reflection. And I say that as someone who rode a motorcycle as my daily commute for years, even in the depths of Tasmanian winter (stopping to scrape ice off your visor is quite the experience). Motorcyclists are particularly averse to admitting that they might ever be in the wrong, when it comes to their outsize rates of crashes.
Because here’s the triggery fact: it’s more often than not their own fault, not car drivers.
In yet another classic case of a misleading headline that’s belied by its own article, the ABC recently screeched:
Drivers asked to help curb motorcyclist deaths after 52 fatalities in Queensland so far this year.
Remember my First Law of the Media: Never believe a headline.
In this particular case, the headline is not quite a lie — the article does briefly mention the role of cars — but it’s grossly misleading. Because almost all of the article is about the responsibility of motorcyclists not to wipe themselves out.
Authorities say more motorcycles on the road and less experienced riders may be contributing to a surge in fatal motorbike crashes in Queensland.
Police Superintendent Douglas McDonald, who oversees the Southern Queensland district, said motorcylists were some of the most vulnerable road users.
And some of the riskiest and most reckless.
So far this year, at the time of writing, 52 riders had lost their lives on Queensland roads, making 2023 to date the deadliest year for motorbike riders for five years.
“Research shows they’re 30 times more likely to be killed in a car crash,” Superintendent McDonald said.
“And unfortunately, rider behaviour has contributed to a large number of these fatalities.”
This is in line with hard data from other states. Regardless of just-so stories of “This one time, a car…”, the facts are unambiguous. In Victoria, motorcycle crashes are evenly split between suburban and country roads. On country roads, 52% are single vehicle crashes (can’t blame cars for those) and 28% are overtaking/head-on crashes (in other words, racers trying to beat oncoming cars).
Only on urban roads less than 60 km/h are crashes more likely to involve another vehicle (64%). But even of those, Queensland data shows that “in fatal multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes in Australia, the motorcyclist is deemed to be at fault in just over half (51%) these crashes. Another vehicle, other than the motorcyclist, is at fault in approximately one-third of these crashes.”
So, sorry, bikers: most of the time it is your fault.
And you can’t blame the “boy racers”, either: the single most likely age group to be injured or killed are males aged 40-59.
“Anecdotally, we’ve seen an increase in motorcycles purchased during COVID,” Superintendent McDonald said.
“So potentially, we have more riders on the road, and unfortunately, [they are] less experienced as well.”
He’s talking about you, Harley McMidlifecrisis.
Toowoomba-based motorcycle instructor Tony Gallagher said there was a lot more traffic on the road now than a couple of years ago during lockdowns.
“And more opportunity for risk,” he said.
Mr Gallagher has been training new riders for more than two decades […]
Mr Gallagher tells all new riders the same thing.
“The big thing is to recognise hazards,” he explained.
Especially, as my instructor drummed into us, so long ago:
“It’s really important that you check all the side streets, looking for some who may pull out on you.
“If you see someone on a side street, set your brakes and slow down, you might lose 5 kilometres an hour, but you’re not going to be late for work.”
As I was also taught, there’s no joy in arguing right-of-way from a hospital bed. If you can see a car turning out, you can often avoid it, too.
And make sure cars can see you. This is where the article finally gets to the part the ABC chose to headline.
He said car drivers could also help keep riders safe.
“Have a second look,” he said.
“One look may not identify a motorcycle, especially if it’s behind the A-pillar — where the windscreen sits — a second look would be really good idea.”
ABC Australia
As a motorcyclist, make sure you can see the driver’s eyes in their side mirror. If you can see their face — they can’t see you.
Of course, cars are never not at fault in motorcycle crashes, but the facts don’t support the riders’ self-serving narrative, either.