“Please find attached a news release regarding a new road safety campaign aimed at motorcyclists and headed up by five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion Mock (sic) Doohan,” said the press release from Hughes PR. It included this “fact sheet”. My comments are in red.


• Motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to be killed on SA roads than motorists (I’d love to see the statistics which led to that conclusion. We’ve now been told it’s six times, twenty times, thirty-four times, etc etc. None of these figures that I’ve seen have been backed by credible statistics.)

• Between 2004-2008 there were 94 fatalities, 861 serious injuries and 2826 total casualties from motorcycle crashes (I bet that smoking/drinking/football/you name it caused more fatalities.)

• In 2007 there were 10 fatalities, 174 serious injuries and 620 total casualties from motorcycle crashes (As above.)

• In 2008, motorcycle fatalities increased to 17 and motorcycle injuries accounted for 10% of all compulsory third party (CTP) claims costs (And what percentage was caused by cars?)

• So far in 2009, 12 motorcyclists have died on our roads (That’s terrible. Any death is terrible. And who caused the majority of the crashes that led to death? Drivers, that’s who. This is a checkable statistic. Why didn’t you include that – AND AIM YOUR CAMPAIGN AT THEM?)

• The fatality rate for motorcyclists has remained stable throughout the 2000s, however, total fatalities for all drivers has trended downwards, leaving motorcyclists as an increasing proportion of fatalities (The number of motorcyclists grew almost exponentially in that time, as did the distance they covered. This is a meaningless statistic.)

• In 2008, motorcycle crashes cost the CTP fund $43 million and in the five-year period between 2004-2008, motorcycle crashes cost the CTP fund $185 million (You’re saying you can’t afford to fund your own statutory authorities? Or what?)

• Males between 20 and 45 are the most vulnerable motorcyclists on the road. (Bet they’re not, especially when you include dirt “roads”. Bet the most endangered group is younger.)

• Motorcycling is increasing in popularity, with motorcycle registrations having increased significantly between 2007 and 2008, with registrations of the fuel-efficient scooter increasing by 232% in metropolitan Adelaide (And this is ... bad? By the way, it just proves my point about the increase in riders, above.)

• 35 per cent of motorcycle crashes where the motorcyclist is at fault show they hit a fixed object such as trees, stobie poles or parked vehicles. (They wouldn’t be serious crashes if they didn’t hit something.)

• 58 per cent of motorcycle crashes where the riders is not at fault occur because of collisions at t-junctions or right angle turns, indicating a need for greater vigilance on behalf of other drivers. (Hallelujah! Although of course you mean “on the part of other (?) drivers”)

• Drivers report seeing motorcyclists everyday but say they are more cautious because of the motorcyclists vulnerability and perceived sense of unpredictability. (Ha ha ha ha haa... oh, I really needed a good laugh after all that nonsense above.)

• Motorcyclists are aware of their vulnerability and claim they adhere to safe behaviour, however admit to relaxing this behaviour if they believe they are in control or because they want to experience the thrill of riding “dangerously”. (Look, I’ll wear this one. Sure.)

• Motorcyclists are aware of the needs and benefits of safety gear, however, most rarely wear the entire kit – even if they own it (Unlike you; you always wear a raincoat and take your umbrella if it looks like rain, yeah?)

Why do I even bother to read these things? Because they make the road even more dangerous for you and me, I guess...

Peter “The Bear” Thoeming