Biker safety lessons for A motorcycle-mad Red dwarf star

As an avid bike enthusiast, I know that all bikers are aware that we are among the most vulnerable road users. Despite our stout-hearted image, we know the road safety facts and the dangers of getting on our bikes and hitting the open road. Anyone who doesn’t travel inside a vehicle, such as horse riders, pedal cyclists and pedestrians, are more likely to get injured or have an accident on the road. 

Whether it’s a lack of attention on the part of car drivers, poor road conditions or bikers willing to take more risks, motorcyclists have the highest injury and accident rate of all road users. Not only that, but even though we only make up one percent of traffic each year, we account for up to 19 per cent of all fatalities. So what’s the solution to this problem of biker safety?

Since the engine was invented, there have been motorcycle accidents, so we’re never going to get rid of them all together – but we can take preventative measures. I want to keep revving my motorbike until I’m on my last legs, so it makes sense to learn how to stay as safe as possible while I’m on my bike.

My biker safety course took place at the Honda UK Head Office and was conducted by safety experts from the Kent Fire Brigade. I take my helmet off to these guys as they did an excellent job. I learned a huge amount in three hours and left feeling fully confident that I’d be able to handle an accident if I was to ever come across one

Three steps to safety

The course is divided into three modules:

• 1. What to do at the scene of an accident.
• 2. How to treat injuries – first aid.
• 3. How to prevent a collision and make sure you are seen on the road.

In the first module, we learned what to do at the scene of an accident, such as asking drivers to turn off their engines, warning other traffic with hazard lights and what information to provide when you call 999. There are a very specific set of road safety rules to follow, and even though no one wants to have to deal with a road accident, if you know what to do it makes things a whole lot easier. 

The second module dealt with first aid tips – something everyone should be able to do whether you’re a biker or not. I knew nothing about treating injuries before taking the course, but now I know how to deal with open fractures, bleeding and applying pressure to a wound. We were also taught how to do CPR on the victim until the ambulance arrived.

I enjoyed the entire course, but found the third module fascinating, especially the part about being seen on the road. When it comes to biker safety gear, I’ve always been taught to wear bright colours, which makes sense in the dark. But when it’s a sunny day, wearing fluorescent colours is counter-productive since you’ll blend in with the light and become less visible. It’s also advised that you wear darker shades when the sun’s out. The same applies during the night – make sure you wear bright colours instead of dark to make sure you are visible to other road users. 

How to save a life

I learnt many things on the Biker Down course, but one thing in particular took me by surprise. The rule of thumb is that you should never take off a motorcyclist’s helmet at the scene of an accident, but this is entirely wrong. The helmet should only be removed if it’s an absolute emergency, such as the victim being unable to breathe. It’s not that the helmet shouldn’t be removed, but it needs to be taken off properly, stabilising the head and neck as you do so. 

I also learned about the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline activates what’s known as the ‘fight or flight’ response – how the body reacts to stress and dangerous situations. The release of adrenaline can be both positive and negative, because it can cause you to panic, which means your thought processes won’t be in the best shape to handle the situation. One of the key things we were taught is how to control the adrenaline rush so we can operate to our full potential when at the scene of an accident. 

To top it all off, we were given a free first aid kit, a handy heat-sealed pack that contains everything you need to treat motorbike injuries, such as bandages, plasters and scissors. You can even store it under the seat of your motorcycle. 

The ultimate test

I’m spreading the word about this course because I believe what it teaches is vital to all bikers. My hope is that no one reading this is ever involved in an accident or has to witness an accident, but it’s massively important to know what to do if the unfortunate does happen. 

I met loads of great people on the course and we all exchanged details at the end. A few days later I got an email from a lady called Laura. The very next morning after the course, she was driving in her van and came across a motorcycle accident. She was the first person on the scene and put everything we had learned into practice. 

Thankfully, the guy involved in the accident only broke a few ribs, but the situation could have been a lot worse if Laura didn’t know what to do. For me, that underlines the importance of the Biker Down course and everything it teaches. Would you know what to do?