Majority of traffic accidents involve motorcycles

By Mark DaCosta- Guyana Police Force Commander for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus has said that the majority of traffic accidents on Guyana’s roadways involve motorcycles.

While up to date national statistics have not been released by the GPF, the regional commander spoke of the situation in his region.

“Why the motorcyclists?” Commander Bacchus lamented, “because some of them feel they are Superman and they are superheroes, ‘star boys’; they are stunt makers. They are lying down on the motorcycle and popping; riding in a dangerous manner in front of vehicles.” The senior policeman said the main causes of motorcycle accidents in Guyana are due to excessive speed, drug and alcohol intoxication, and operating a motorcycle while distracted.

International findings by studies conducted in the United States mirror local realities. According to a recent American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, roughly 80 per cent of all reported motorcycle crashes result in serious injury, compared to just 2 per cent in passenger vehicles (cars, trucks, etc.). Similarly, motorcycle riders were found to be 27 times more likely to suffer a fatality during a collision.

According to various studies conducted in a number of territories with traffic profiles superficially resembling Guyana’s, the following are the primary reasons for motorcycle accidents and deaths:

• Speeding
• Alcohol or drugs
• Riding into car doors being suddenly opened
• Not wearing a helmet
• Rapid lane switching
• Stopping suddenly
• Bad weather
• Wet roads
• Inexperienced operator
• Not paying attention
• Turning a corner too quickly
• Mechanical defects
• Emotional or physical issues such as being angry or in physical pain

The NHTSA published the following information:

“On the road, a motorcyclist’s visibility is both limited by and to the car in front of him or her. In traffic, this means that an approaching car may not notice a motorcyclist following along in traffic behind other cars (more of which we’ll cover below). Similarly when a motorcycle is lane splitting or passing it’s much more likely that a car wouldn’t notice their presence and potentially open a door into them. While this may pose a minor inconvenience (and a few expensive bills) for a car, it can be highly dangerous for a rider.

“Even standard features of traffic like sudden stops, roadway litter, and vehicle spills can all pose a threat to a biker due to the fact that they’re so much more exposed. A cigarette from a passing motorist may bounce harmlessly off a car’s windshield, but likely won’t have the same effect if it winds up going down a rider’s shirt…

“The good news is, though, that motorcycles are by and large more agile and responsive than cars or trucks on the road. And while traffic threats are the cause of many motorcycle accidents every year around the world — they CAN be avoided many times through diligence and proper training