Last year, motorcycles only made up about 4% of South Australia’s registered vehicles, yet riders accounted for almost a quarter of the fatalities and 35% of the serious injuries on our roads.

Motorcyclist Harald Lindemann has 45 years’ experience riding under his belt, and has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly on his bike. He was sideswiped by a truck while
riding in India and has experienced his fair share of near misses on city streets here in Adelaide.

“I’ve had a couple of crashes,” Harald says. His confrontation with the truck in India ended with a crushed foot that prevented him from riding for about 6 months. Another crash closer to home saw him come off his bike.

“I was riding in the rain once [in Adelaide] and went through a set of lights. On the other side, a car braked quickly.

“I hit my brakes and the front end lost it. The bike slid across the road and came to stop at a parked car.”

Fortunately, Harald was okay on this occasion and didn’t suffer any major injuries. But he says near misses occur almost every time he rides on the road.

“A driver might pull out in front of you or brake hard, so you have to take evasive action to make sure you don’t hit them,” he says.

Crashes resulting in injuries are unfortunately a reality for many motorcyclists whether they’re travelling on country or suburban roads. Since 2017 there have been more than 2000 casualty motorcycle crashes in South Australia in which the rider has needed medical attention.

Over that same period, about 600 motorcyclists have been seriously injured on our roads.

Harald says the crashes he’s had, both overseas and here in Adelaide, in the past, have impacted the way he rides today.

“I think [the crashes] have made me more aware of what’s going on around me and how my bike handles,” he says.

“On a motorcycle, there’s always an element of risk. It’s important you know how your bike reacts in different situations, whether it’s on sand, bitumen or gravel.”

So, what’s causing motorcycle crashes on SA roads?

A study published last year by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) at the University of Adelaide found riders had a higher risk of serious injury if they crashed, compared to occupants of other types of vehicle.

The study, which compared motorcycle crashes to other vehicle collisions resulting in hospitalisations, discovered that motorcyclists were most likely to be involved in single-vehicle crashes where they’d rolled over, left the road or hit an animal. Most crashes occurred on the weekend, during the day, on winding roads.

Harald has had his fair share of animal encounters while riding, too. Most recently he came face-to-face with an emu on a country road.

“The emu just stepped out in front of me and didn’t know which way to go, so I had to brake really quickly.

“Hitting an animal at 60km/h can cause the bike to go off its line and cause you to come off.”

It’s not just animals that motorcyclists need to watch out for – they also need to look out for potholes or oil on the road. Both could cause them to lose control of their bikes.

There are also a few things motorcyclists can do to help prevent accidents and avoid dangers on the road.

1. Prepare

Before you jump on your bike and ride off into the sunset, there are a few things you should do. First, check your bike is in working order. Do a quick walk around your machine looking for any fluid leaks. Check your tyres for wear and ensure your foot pegs aren’t loose. Lastly, make sure your lights and indicators are working.

Next, make sure you’re wearing the correct protective gear. You’ve probably seen a few people riding motorcycles in a t-shirt, shorts and thongs. This can be extremely dangerous. If you fall off, there’s nothing protecting you from the asphalt below.

Alarmingly, without the correct protective clothing, a person sliding on bitumen in a crash can lose about 1mm of flesh for every 2km/h they’re travelling over 40km/h. Sliding in a crash can even scrape away bone. To protect yourself, wear a jacket, gloves and boots that have high motorcycle clothing assessment program (MotoCAP) star-ratings.

You’ll also want to check the weather conditions while you’re riding and make sure they’re favourable for cruising. Wet weather can create hazards that might not exist when the sun is shining. You’re going to get wet, but so is the road. This can make it harder for your tyres to grip.

If it hasn’t rained in a while, you might find that the road is a bit oily. This is because road surfaces soak up oil and other substances during dry periods. When it rains, all of this is lifted to the surface by the water, creating dangerous and slippery conditions for riders.

2. Ride to the conditions

Knowing your bike and how it handles in certain conditions will ensure you have a safe ride. If the road’s slippery, reduce your speed, ride in the tracks made by the car in front to gain more traction and look out for oil that often collects in the centre of a lane.

If you’re on an unfamilar country road or winding your way through the hills, take your time. A lot of regional roads have poor surfaces with potholes, gravel and poor edging. Scan the road surface as you ride and adjust your speed or road position when necessary.

While we’re highlighting country roads, you’ll want to watch out for wild (and domestic) animals. If you see one, don’t swerve. Brake firmly and if possible, steer gently around them.

3. Keep learning

It doesn’t matter whether you’re just getting your motorcycle licence or you’re a veteran on the road, you need to ensure you don’t fall into bad habits. Even Harald, who’s been riding for more than 40 years, takes refresher courses every few years to make sure he’s still able to handle his bike.

“You do a short course with an experienced trainer and they pick up any bad habits you’ve fallen into,” he says.

“When you get back on the road, you see the whole environment differently and you react differently. Everyone should do a refresher course at least every 10 years.”

Final word

It’s no doubt that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users. We’re not even halfway through 2021, and there have already been 9 motorcycle fatalities on South Australian roads.

RAA Safety and Infrastructure Senior Manager Charles Mountain says all road users need to take care.

“Motorcyclists need to be prepared before they get on their bikes and ensure they ride to the conditions,” Mr Mountain says.

“Other motorists need to ensure they share the road and protect vulnerable road users like motorcyclists.

“Riders and drivers alike need to fully concentrate on the task of driving or riding to help reduce motorcycle injuries and fatalities.”