Traffic behaviour and traffic safety

Yearly, hundreds of people die as a result of traffic accidents. Almost three-quarters of these victims are male. More than half of the casualties occur on municipal roads, especially on roads where the maximum speed is 50 km/h. These roads are where vulnerable road users and multiple flows of traffic meet. Roads with a maximum speed of 80 km/h follow directly after.

Motorcyclists have a much higher risk of a fatal accident per kilometre ridden than motorists. Again, most victims are male between the ages of 20 and 30. A large part of this risk is within your own control as a motorcyclist. Many accidents occur due to overconfidence and too high speeds. But most accidents occur due to the motorcyclist being overlooked due to its small size. This is something you should be aware of as a motorcyclist.

In addition to the human risk factor, other causes also play a role, although this role is much smaller than that of human error. A small part is due to the vehicle, such as bad maintenance, manufacturing fault or a technical defect.

The remaining accidents are due to the environment, such as poor visibility due to, for example fog, collisions with crossing game or other road or weather conditions. But again, you may wonder if you, as a driver, should not have reacted differently to it to avoid accidents.

Risk factors

Most accidents occur due to drivers not paying enough attention. This is often not on purpose, but due to personal circumstances. How well you pay attention is influenced by a few different factors.

State of mind

Your thoughts can stray because you are sad or angry, or because you are happy or enthusiastic about something you have just heard. Because our brains can do much less at once than we think, you are less focused on riding a motorcycle at those times. Your riding style is also influenced by your emotions, for example, angry people often ride more aggressive.

Fatigue

You are also less attentive when you are fatigued. You react slower and you think less clearly. Fatigue has the same effect on your riding style as the use of alcohol. Despite the fact that in many accidents it cannot be determined whether they were caused due to fatigue, it is estimated that at least 10-15% of the accident are directly or indirectly caused by fatigue.

Therefore, do not go riding when you are too tired, but look for an alternative, or if possible, stay home. When riding long distances, you prevent fatigue by having a 15-minute break at least every two hours.

Distractions

Most accidents in traffic occur due to distractions. With motorists, the mobile phone is often the cause of this distraction. Holding a mobile phone (or any other mobile communication device) while riding is therefore prohibited for all drivers. While riding a motorcycle, you are less inclined to grab your mobile phone. If it is even used while riding, it is often placed in a holder on the handlebars, and you are therefore not holding it. But that does not mean it will not distract you.

Even though, for example, calling handsfree is allowed, it is almost as unsafe as calling handheld due to the distraction. Other actions that are allowed, can also cause a significant distraction. For example, it is not legally prohibited to set your navigation system while riding, or to be in contact with a passenger or another motorcyclist via Bluetooth. But even then, you are less focused on traffic. So do not start an entire conversation with your passenger while riding, keep it to necessary messages only.

Illness or physical impairments

Physical impairments or illnesses can also make you less able to ride. For example, if you have a broken ankle or wrist, you can no longer properly handle a motorcycle. You are then no longer allowed to ride a motorcycle. Riding is also not advisable when, due to illness, it is harder for you to concentrate.

Re-embarkation

Under motorcyclists, you will often find drivers that have not ridden in a while and then ‘get back up’ again. Think of seasonal drivers, but also motorcyclists that buy or rent a motorcycle after not having ridden for quite a long time. This group must adjust again but does not always realise this. It could be very wise to take a few riding lessons again. Ride extra defensively the first few rides and start with short rides.

A standard glass of an alcoholic beverage

One standard glass of wine contains as much alcohol as one standard glass or beer or one standard glass of spirits.

Alcohol

Alcohol is in every way very bad for your riding style. It causes overestimation, while you actually start riding worse. Your perception worsens, you react less quickly, and you often unconsciously accept the risks because you think they are not so bad. One standard glass of an alcoholic beverage only leaves your system after about 1-1.5 hours. In the meantime, the accident risk is significantly higher, depending on how much you drink. From four times as high after three to four glasses, to 20 times as high after five to six glasses.

Drugs

All types of recreational drug use have a negative effect on your riding style. How exactly depends on the type. For example: drugs like weed and hash make you concentrate less and react more slowly. On the contrary, stimulating drugs make you ride more aggressively and faster because you think you can handle anything and are super sharp. Overestimation is a big problem here. With drugs, it can take up to multiple days before you are below the limit at which you can ride again. The police can check this through a saliva test.

Medications

It is also a criminal offence to ride under the influence of certain medications that can impair your ability to ride. For example, sleeping pills. But these also includes antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medications, and even eyedrops that temporarily reduce vision. This does not only apply to medications prescribed by a physician.

Medications to which this applies usually feature a yellow warning sticker. The accompanying leaflet will also contain a warning.

If you use these kinds of medications, then you are required to indicate this on your health declaration. The CBR may opt to investigate further before declaring you fit to ride. Always discuss this with your driving school or instructor at the earliest opportunity.

If you already have your driving licence, it is your responsibility to handle any medications properly. If you are involved in an accident caused by your use of medication, you may be held liable.