By Julian Goldsmith, 29 October 2008 11:52
Honda cites an EU funded research project called the Motorcycle In-Depth Study published in 1999, which found of the 88 per cent of motorcycle accidents caused by human error, 38 per cent were due to the motorcyclist and 50 per cent were down to the other driver.
Of the latter, the majority of accidents occurred because of perception failures (failing to see the motorcycle) or comprehension failures (not recognising the approaching object as a motorcycle) or decision failures (failing to assess the speed of the oncoming motorcycle and pulling out).
A significant proportion of motorcycle accidents involve an oncoming vehicle either pulling out of a minor road on a junction into the path of the motorcycle, or crossing into the path of an oncoming motorcycle to turn right from a major road into a minor road.
Photo credit: Honda
Comments
There are 11 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
Excuse me! the car drivers are responsible for 50% of the accidents but the bike gets all the junk added to it. Another miraculous initiative why not put it in the car?
2. Karen Challinor
personally I'd favour the electronic ABS over the V2V as from reading the article the latter relies on both vehicles being fitted with V2V
also the trainer for learner riders is a good idea but it needs a bigger sensorium that wraps around the rider rather than a small screen directly in front of them, hazards approach bikers from many directions including the rear and sides, thats why you are taught to turn your head and look before key manoeuvres
they don't call them "lifesavers" for nothing
3. anonymous
Cagers will still say "Sorry mate I didn't see you on my V2V - i was too busy eating a burger/changing CD/not paying attention/texting a friend"
Better training for CAR/Van Drivers is the only way forward with expensive re-training for those that cause RTAs through inattention to other road user.
4. Arthur Butterfield
Agreed, pity we bikers don't film car and van drivers wobbling all over the place while on their phones and making other dangerous moves.
5. Roy Corneloues
Having discussed ABS with many fellow bikers, the general consensus is that if you need to use the ABS, it's already too late...
Better training for all drivers/riders is what is required. The simulator is a good idea and I agree with Karen, the screens should wrap round the rider to give better perception.
In my opinion, all learner drivers should have to complete the Compulsory Bike Training (CBT) before their first driving lesson. This way they will have seen the road from a bikers perspective before sitting in a car.
It could also make you a better driver, I always do my lifesaver checks whether on 2 or 4 wheels...
6. Mat Barnard
FFS. Lights on a bike to tell you there's another vehicle close by? I normally use the fact that I can see another vehicle close by as an indicator that there might, in fact, be another vehicle close by. :-/
7. Andrew Meredith
Yet another case of trying to solve a human problem by technological means. The vast majority of drivers (and riders) are lazy, self centred and arrogant. Nobody can teach them anything. They on the other hand can teach the rest of the road going population all sorts of deep insights. So lets devise all sorts of science fiction solutions to these problems .. after all, it all works fine on Star Trek ??!
This is a *hard problem. It requires more than the standard "Ooh ooh, how about xxx?" solutions.
The following is why I will never be elected.
1 - Stepped licensing for cars in line with the existing system for bikes. eg You don't get to drive more than 3 passengers until you are over 21, or have passed the first layer of advanced tests.
2 - Compulsory retests every 5 years. The first, after 2 years, at a similar level to the original DSA test, the next and subsequent tests at a basic advanced level. Failure to pass revokes license.
3 - Driver must carry a green P plate until they have passed the basic advanced level test.
All of the above can be bypassed by joining a certified advanced driving scheme with 3 year advanced retests and gaining at least bronze level passes.
A driving license is not an ID card that also allows you sit behind the wheel; it is not a right; it a privileged that has to be earned and IMHO re-earned.
So how many drivers would vote for that do you think :-)
8. Charles Kenneth Wright
Insane!
Unless the system is so sophisticated that it can distinguish different lanes and overtaking vehicles, we are going to be deafened by continuous warnings, and blinded by continous flashing lighs - especially at night. Imagine going along a motorway or fast road, with a road bridge over it. Would this system know the difference between this and a cross road? How mant false alarms? What about vehicles without the system - would people begin to rely on having a warning?
Oh and the Rudge motorcycle had linked brakes in teh 1930s, and BMW have had ABS for many years - linking these two together is hardly radical or original.
And as for the trainer ........!
9. Tezza Le Grey
Haven't we got enough to contend with without more flashing lights and voices in our ears?!?!?!
How about starting simply, change car indicators from tick, tick, tick to "Think Bike", "Think Bike" or alternating frases.
But then we'd be relying on them to actually indicate in the first place!
10. Coops
Typical corporate solution, use more technology. The answer is much simpler:-
1. Provide fewer gadgets and distractions for car drivers.
2. Make a full car driving license conditional on ownership of a full bike license and 2 years use of a Powered Two Wheeler
3. Make car drivers involved in a Road Traffic Incident with a motorcycle re-take their car driving test.
This will (a) make car cheaper to build and therefore more affordable while providing the driver with fewer in car distractions, (b) make drivers more aware of rider vulnerability, and (c) provide an incentive for making the driver focus on the driving activity instead of being distracted by the gadgets and toys around him/her.
11. Nick Weavers
After 15 years on bikes (Vmax, Fireblade's, R1, GSXR 1000) I am afraid I have concluded that a bikers best tool for survival is good defensive driving. This tends to be something we do anyway as the consequences for us from a crash are considerably worse than for a "cager" (I liked that term).
We all get extremely angry when we see inconsiderate car/van/lorry drivers using mobiles/gps/mp3 and other distracting devices rather than giving driving the undivided attention it deserves for the safety of others, but at the end of the day, bikers can survive the war zone with the right attitude and training.