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Motorcycle Riders to Take a Course
B.C., Traffic Services
2015-07-31 14:45 PDT
File # 2015-18
It’s a beautiful summer day and a man heads out on a road trip on his brand new touring bike he bought as a retirement gift. He is excited as the last bike he rode, nearly 30 years ago, didn’t have the same power or handling like this new ride. He has never driven along such an amazing highway with breathtaking views, steep hills, twists and turns. True open road freedom…
For many people, this is enviable and sounds like a dream come true. To the RCMP, it raises immense concern and means potentially another motorcyclist lost to tragedy.
The RCMP reports an increase in motorcycle fatalities over the past three years. Over the past eighteen months, the overwhelming majority of victims in fatal motorcycle crashes have been men, and the 40-69 age group is the most at risk. The Southeast sees the highest number of deaths in the province and the warmer months are the most deadly as more than half of all motorcyclists are killed between May and September.
Sadly, the majority of these deaths are attributed to motorcycle rider error on highways and do not involve another vehicle. This means that motorcycle riders have the power to mitigate their own risks and the RCMP is urging drivers to recognize their limitations and do something about it before it is too late.
Riders who have had their Class 6 licence for 40 years but haven’t ridden for over 20 years think they have the skills of an experienced rider. Nothing could be further from the truth, says Cst. John Belanger of North Island Traffic Services and RCMP Motorcycle Operator.
Motorcycle riders; especially, those who have not ridden in many years need to recognize their riding skills are perishable and they need to take a course. Riding a motorcycle after many years is not as simple as getting back on a bicycle. Refreshing and improving their skills is critical to ensuring they arrive home safely after every ride.
Losing control on corners, speed and inattention are major contributing factors for motorcycle fatalities on BC highways.
Big bikes are losing control on highway curves. The skill required to negotiate these curves at higher speeds is called counter steering. Riders who do not take a course to learn counter steering and practice this essential skill in a controlled environment are at great risk, says Reserve Cst. Dave Cramm of the RCMP’s South Okanagan Traffic Services and an ICBC accredited motorcycle instructor.
Speed limits are the maximum during ideal conditions and when riders do not respect the speed limit and their own limits, tragedy often follows. Driving a motorcycle is a very complex task and requires your full attention. Focusing on the road condition, design and your surrounding environment is critical to avoid a life ending crash.
Taking a motorcycle course and joining a motorcycle social club are excellent ways to mitigate the risk riders face every time they head out on the road, says Cpl. Bruce Robertson of Port Mann Traffic Services and RCMP Motorcycle Operator.
Inspector Martin Dey, of the RCMP’s North District Traffic Services, RCMP Motorcycle Operator and avid motorcyclist urges all motorcyclists to test their abilities in a safe and controlled environment. You need to take a course and practice enough so you become one with the bike. You don’t ride a bike, you have to wear it. It needs to be part of you.
In an effort to reduce motorcycle deaths and injuries on BC roads, the RCMP is already implementing proactive measures to support riders and help improve their skills. South Okanagan Traffic Services identified the high rate of serious and fatal motorcycle collisions in their area and have been proactively educating the riders in their communities on motorcycle safety. This has already had a positive impact on reducing the number of riders who are injured or killed in our area, says Sgt. Harold Hallett of South Okanagan Traffic Services.
Over 100 riders attended a motorcycle cone course held by Burnaby RCMP Traffic Services last month. 85% of riders were shocked to see how minimal their skill level really was. Providing motorcyclists in our communities the opportunity to ensure they have the skills to survive the ride is key to reducing the motorcycle carnage on BC roads, says Cpl. Rempel of BC RCMP Traffic Services.
As the Program Manager for BC's RCMP motorcycle program I am responsible for signing off on officers abilities on the police motorcycle. We (RCMP) mandate all our motor officers to pass an annual skills course. This is after they have completed the initial two week training course required by all officers. If they do not pass this annual test their authority to operate a police motorcycle is removed until such time they are successful. This annual requirement accounts for those officers that have taken the initial training but ride so rarely that their skill sets are in question due to lack of practice. That is how serious we are about officers maintaining skill sets on their motorcycle. If you are returning to the world of motorcycling take some training, it could save your life, says Staff Sergeant Dale Somerville.
For more information on motorcycle safety, visit ICBC’s website: icbc.com
Released by
Cpl. Ronda McEwen
I just finished my motorcycle advanced training on the weekend, after 35yrs of riding a motorcycle. This little read and few incidents i have read and was told lately about was an inspiration to do so. I was blown away at some of my bad habits and lack of skill's i actually had. If you ride, young or experienced older rider, this is a must. You'ed be very surprised on how little and poor your skill's probably are.
BTW, during the course our instructor said according to rcmp stats that 34% of motorcycle rider's in BC are either not license or riding on expired learners or riding under restricted condition's. Such as solo or night, even doubling. Interesting to know that people are willing to take such chances instead of learning and being properly licensed.
B.C., Traffic Services
2015-07-31 14:45 PDT
File # 2015-18
It’s a beautiful summer day and a man heads out on a road trip on his brand new touring bike he bought as a retirement gift. He is excited as the last bike he rode, nearly 30 years ago, didn’t have the same power or handling like this new ride. He has never driven along such an amazing highway with breathtaking views, steep hills, twists and turns. True open road freedom…
For many people, this is enviable and sounds like a dream come true. To the RCMP, it raises immense concern and means potentially another motorcyclist lost to tragedy.
The RCMP reports an increase in motorcycle fatalities over the past three years. Over the past eighteen months, the overwhelming majority of victims in fatal motorcycle crashes have been men, and the 40-69 age group is the most at risk. The Southeast sees the highest number of deaths in the province and the warmer months are the most deadly as more than half of all motorcyclists are killed between May and September.
Sadly, the majority of these deaths are attributed to motorcycle rider error on highways and do not involve another vehicle. This means that motorcycle riders have the power to mitigate their own risks and the RCMP is urging drivers to recognize their limitations and do something about it before it is too late.
Riders who have had their Class 6 licence for 40 years but haven’t ridden for over 20 years think they have the skills of an experienced rider. Nothing could be further from the truth, says Cst. John Belanger of North Island Traffic Services and RCMP Motorcycle Operator.
Motorcycle riders; especially, those who have not ridden in many years need to recognize their riding skills are perishable and they need to take a course. Riding a motorcycle after many years is not as simple as getting back on a bicycle. Refreshing and improving their skills is critical to ensuring they arrive home safely after every ride.
Losing control on corners, speed and inattention are major contributing factors for motorcycle fatalities on BC highways.
Big bikes are losing control on highway curves. The skill required to negotiate these curves at higher speeds is called counter steering. Riders who do not take a course to learn counter steering and practice this essential skill in a controlled environment are at great risk, says Reserve Cst. Dave Cramm of the RCMP’s South Okanagan Traffic Services and an ICBC accredited motorcycle instructor.
Speed limits are the maximum during ideal conditions and when riders do not respect the speed limit and their own limits, tragedy often follows. Driving a motorcycle is a very complex task and requires your full attention. Focusing on the road condition, design and your surrounding environment is critical to avoid a life ending crash.
Taking a motorcycle course and joining a motorcycle social club are excellent ways to mitigate the risk riders face every time they head out on the road, says Cpl. Bruce Robertson of Port Mann Traffic Services and RCMP Motorcycle Operator.
Inspector Martin Dey, of the RCMP’s North District Traffic Services, RCMP Motorcycle Operator and avid motorcyclist urges all motorcyclists to test their abilities in a safe and controlled environment. You need to take a course and practice enough so you become one with the bike. You don’t ride a bike, you have to wear it. It needs to be part of you.
In an effort to reduce motorcycle deaths and injuries on BC roads, the RCMP is already implementing proactive measures to support riders and help improve their skills. South Okanagan Traffic Services identified the high rate of serious and fatal motorcycle collisions in their area and have been proactively educating the riders in their communities on motorcycle safety. This has already had a positive impact on reducing the number of riders who are injured or killed in our area, says Sgt. Harold Hallett of South Okanagan Traffic Services.
Over 100 riders attended a motorcycle cone course held by Burnaby RCMP Traffic Services last month. 85% of riders were shocked to see how minimal their skill level really was. Providing motorcyclists in our communities the opportunity to ensure they have the skills to survive the ride is key to reducing the motorcycle carnage on BC roads, says Cpl. Rempel of BC RCMP Traffic Services.
As the Program Manager for BC's RCMP motorcycle program I am responsible for signing off on officers abilities on the police motorcycle. We (RCMP) mandate all our motor officers to pass an annual skills course. This is after they have completed the initial two week training course required by all officers. If they do not pass this annual test their authority to operate a police motorcycle is removed until such time they are successful. This annual requirement accounts for those officers that have taken the initial training but ride so rarely that their skill sets are in question due to lack of practice. That is how serious we are about officers maintaining skill sets on their motorcycle. If you are returning to the world of motorcycling take some training, it could save your life, says Staff Sergeant Dale Somerville.
For more information on motorcycle safety, visit ICBC’s website: icbc.com
Released by
Cpl. Ronda McEwen
I just finished my motorcycle advanced training on the weekend, after 35yrs of riding a motorcycle. This little read and few incidents i have read and was told lately about was an inspiration to do so. I was blown away at some of my bad habits and lack of skill's i actually had. If you ride, young or experienced older rider, this is a must. You'ed be very surprised on how little and poor your skill's probably are.
BTW, during the course our instructor said according to rcmp stats that 34% of motorcycle rider's in BC are either not license or riding on expired learners or riding under restricted condition's. Such as solo or night, even doubling. Interesting to know that people are willing to take such chances instead of learning and being properly licensed.