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Why Motorcyclists Are Better Drivers

Adrian Giles • Jan 05, 2021
Biker in car

Most blokes believe they are great drivers and equally fabulous when it comes to all things in the “bedroom department”. Sorry guys let me disabuse you of these misapprehensions. Nothing could be further from the truth and this I might add, is based on considerable feedback received over the years! Special thanks should be recorded here to ex-wives and girlfriends on the latter and, thank goodness, to my motorcycle pals on the former. To save any further embarrassment for the author, the focus for this Blog will be on riding skills and my belief that motorcyclists are better and safer motorists.

Knowing your own limitations and not making the same mistake twice are great lessons for life and for riding motorcycles. Self-awareness is a vital ingredient for continual improvement. In her book Pressure Is a Privilege, former World Number 1 and multiple Grand Slam winning tennis player Billie Jean King states that self-awareness is “probably the most important thing in becoming a champion”. World renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow believes that “What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself”. On a motorcycle I am self-aware enough to know I will run out of talent quickly and thus adapt my riding accordingly. Most motorcyclists do the same. Being self-aware and situationally aware of everything around us is critical to safety on a motorcycle and this awareness translates to car driving. For example, I am sure I am not the only biker/motorist who always looks over their shoulder when changing lanes whilst driving a car.

I am very keen to learn from my great motorcycling buddy Mick – a far more skilled rider and ex-racer who is always honest enough to help me improve my riding techniques with little tips here and there. Guy is a great teacher too, after all, remember [how could we forget] he covered over 1 million miles as despatch rider in London back in the day and that is a dangerous game that requires a whole new set of motorcycle safety skills. Just following Guy on a ride has helped to improve my skills – he covers the ground so effortlessly. I could not wish for two better tutors, yet what about our hapless, fellow road users on four wheels? What continuing development do they undertake I wonder? Very little based on what us motorcyclists experience I would wager.

Most cars are computers on wheels and drivers of these tin boxes have no concept that it is the electronics working behind the scenes that keeps them safe. Probably a good thing as so many drivers appear to be in a daze, on a mobile phone, or both. Motorcyclists are fully aware of everything their bike is doing, the ever-changing contact with the road, the workings and the limitations of the machine. Motorcyclists are, as Chris from 5Four describes “in the moment”. They are at one with their bike, continually making adjustments to ensure the rubber remains planted on the road and the motorcycle avoids making contact with any fools on four wheels. Furthermore, motorcyclists are vulnerable, no safety cage or seatbelts to lull us into a false sense of security or reduce injury for us. We have to anticipate what is likely to happen next in terms of road conditions and the activities of other motorists and it is this constant acuity combined with our skills, wits and reflexes that makes us great riders and indeed better motorists.

This belief is supported by two surveys conducted by two different insurance companies. In 2013 Equity Red Star conducted a study on historic motor claims for car drivers and motorcyclists who were also car drivers. Their conclusion was motorcyclists who also owned a car were 23% safer behind the wheel compared to car drivers who did not own a motorcycle. A study conducted in 2015 by insurance brokers Carole Nash found that when it came to road knowledge, motorcyclists were far safer than car drivers in 76% of cases. Commenting on the study results, Rebecca Donohue Head of Marketing for Carole Nash said “Motorcyclists scored highly because they must have their wits about them at all times” Donohue added that “More importantly our study revealed that a considerable proportion of car drivers still do not know how to interpret and react to certain everyday road situations involving motorcyclists”. It is interesting to note that the study led to Carole Nash introducing a Bikers only Car Insurance policy. The company guarantees to beat car insurance renewal quotations for motorcyclists based on the premise that motorcyclists make safer road users.

So, there you have it: we motorcyclists are better drivers. Yet we should not rest on our laurels. Practice makes perfect and I commit to continue to improve my riding skills, self and situational awareness and thus will become a better motorist. On the trickier topic of bedroom athletics - still in need of much attention according to the current Mrs Giles - I look forward to the next lesson! To misquote Paul McCartney and the late Michael Jackson, evidently, I’m a biker not a lover. Stay safe and Happy New Year!


References

Pressure Is A Privilege Lessons I’ve learnt From Life and The Battle Of The Sexes. Billy Jean King. September 21st 2008. Lifetime Media. ISBN: 100981636802.
A Theory Of Human Motivation. Abraham Maslow. Psychological Review 50 (4), 430-437. 1943.
Motorcyclists 23% Better Behind The Wheel Of A Car. Steve Farrell 12th November 201. www.visordown.com
Motorcyclists Are Safer Road Users: Survey. Mark Hinchliffe. 30th June 2015. www.motorbikewriter.com
The Girl Is Mine. Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney. Thriller Album. Epic-CBS Records, April 1982.

Image: www.carthrottle.com

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Contributors Many thanks to the following people who contributed to this list: Mike Woodhead Chris Nicolaou Ed Cosker Phil Bellwood Chris Wright Keith Hubbard Robert French References Letterman D. The Late Night With David Letterman: Book Of Top 10 Lists. October 1st 1990. Pocket Books. ISBN: 978-0671726713 Kintsch W. Recognition and Free Recall of Organised Lists. June 1968. Journal of Experimental Psychology. 78:481-476. DOI: 10.1037/h0026462. A List Of Reasons Why Our Brains Love Lists. Maria Konnikova. December 2nd 2013. www.newyorker.com Top 10 Reasons For Top 10 Lists. Thomas H. Davenport. June 1st 2008. Harvard Business Review. www.hbr.org Stevens E.M.G. Know Thy Beast: Vincent Motorcycles. Vincent Publishing Co. June 1972. ISBN: 09050418684.
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