Something that may be of no interest to many people, has caught my attention for the past few weeks and inspired me to write this article and even vent my feelings. Now, let me lay out the scenario for you. So I'm lying wide awake in bed at around 10 pm when I hear the sound of mopeds screeching the road outside my house. In my small town, nothing really interesting ever takes place; unless you count the hundreds of airplanes flying over gardens everyday on their way to Heathrow airport as interesting. I peer out of my window to take a look at what chaos could be taking place outside and I find myself surprised to see two young males messing about on motorcycles. I thought they would be inexperienced because they could not be older than 16-17. Before I go any futher, I just want to say that I'm aware that 17 year olds are entitled to ride up to a 125cc motorcycle on completion of a CBT course. However, I can't help but wonder that it's a little too young.
Over the following nights, I kept hearing the same sounds and I could only fret and worry that someone will get hurt. The youngsters were even speeding in our closed road! There has always been increased attention on the dangers of driving, particularly young people driving under the influence but I believe riding a motorcycle is just as, if not more, dangerous than driving a car. As young adults, we anticipate the moment we can finally say we've purchased (our our parents have paid for) our first car, insurance and are able to cruise down the highway of legal freedom at last! But some want choose to ride a motorcycle instead as it differentiates them from others, gives them a certain edge or simply because they like it better than driving a car. Statistics show that 18 year olds, particularly if they're new drivers, are more than three times likely to be involved in a car crash than a 48 year old because of competitive and reckless driving accompanied with a lack of experience on roads. However, I was also able to find some statistics on motorcycle accidents. In 2011, 362 motorcycle users were killed, rendering the numbers a 10% decrease when compared with 2010 and 33% when compared to the average number killed per year from 2005-2009.
My neighbours may be experiencing that first stage thrill of owning a vehicle and experimenting with it. But young boys are often reckless and since motorcycles are less frequent and therefore less expected, any brush-ups and accidents with a car will inevitably have a bigger impact on the motorcycle user. This can be attributed to a number of reasons: the size of the motorcycle, lack of protection in comparison to a car and the car driver's failure to spot and or stop in time for a motorcycle. Head injuries are a common fatal cause and legs injuries may also result in permanent disability meaning there is pressure on manufacturing companies to pay certain attention to the 'leg' area of a motorcycle. Not to forget, the boys in my neighbourhood were riding at a worryingly late time and I even heard complaints from other surrounding residents. Pressure to decrease the 30mph speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph, especially near schools and houses, has been met positively by the public however, no official action as of yet has been taken by the government. My area is renowned for being relatively small and having few accidents but the fact that there are many schools around means drivers need to be extra cautious.
Despite the glamorous aspects of driving which many students identify as freedom, independence, responsibility and avoiding crammed public transport (hello, don’t forget traffic jams!) driving, as everything else in this world, comes with its cons. Petrol is only getting more expensive, maintenancy costs will always be there, insurance is the spawn of the devil and finally; it's not exactly great for the environment. I only hope the boys on my street are aware of the risks that come with riding a motorcycle and ensure that they are wearing appropriate helmets and staying well below the speed limits. Whether driving a car or riding a motorcycle, one's own safety and the safety of others, especially pedestrians, should always be a priority (even if you display a clear L sign on the rear of your vehicle!)
