With spring comes the lure of the open road and, for some, motorcycling.
Which means motorcyclists – including riders of mopeds, limited-speed motorcycles, scooters, and trikes – need to brush up on their skills, B.C.’s public auto insurer says.
Almost half (49%) of crashes in which a motorcyclist was deemed responsible can be linked to the rider’s skills and a loss of control, says an Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) press release.
Common skill deficits include improper braking (such as a failure to stop or skidding), loss of control when confronted by road hazards, or emergency braking and lane changes leading to collisions with other vehicles.
“Motorcyclists are over three times more likely (325%) to be injured or killed in a crash compared to people in a car,” ICBC says, citing five-year average data from 2019 to 2023. The insurer urges riders to practice critical skills like hard breaking and steering around hazards in preparation for the motorcycling season.
“Wearing protective gear and developing strong riding skills are important steps riders can take to reduce their risk,” it adds.
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ICBC offers some tips for riders, including:
- Checking brakes, chains, cables and tires, and changing the oil to ensure the bike is road-ready. If a motorcycle hasn’t been ridden for a few years, it’s wise to have a mechanic look it over.
- Stay focused and ride at speeds that give enough time to stop or steer if hazards appear.
- Always wear protective gear, including a helmet (preferably full-face) that meets or exceeds legal safety standards.
- Ride like you’re invisible. Never assume drivers can see you and strive to avoid drivers’ blind spots.
“We know riders are excited to get back out on the road this spring, and we want them to feel confident and prepared,” says Kathleen Nadalin, road safety manager at ICBC. “Taking time to focus on skills and preparation early in the season can help riders have a safer riding season.”
ICBC’s data finds distraction is the top contributing factor for motorcycle crashes, followed by speed and rider error or rider confusion. Roughly 34% of motorcycle crashes annually are single-vehicle incidents and the average age of motorcyclists killed or injured in B.C. is 46.
Inexperience isn’t always the primary factor in a crash. ICBC data shows motorcyclists injured or killed in B.C. have typically been licensed for more than 10 years.
Citing five-year averaged police data from 2019 to 2023, ICBC says crashes in the province lead to an average of 712 motorcyclists being injured or killed every year. Most of these incidents happen in the Lower Mainland, where an average of 327 motorcyclists are injured or killed annually. B.C.’s southern interior sees the second-highest number of motorcyclists killed or injured annually (189), followed by 162 on Vancouver Island, and 34 in northern B.C.
Driver alertness critical
As more motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users take to B.C.’s roads, ICBC has asked drivers to stay alert, leave space, and take extra time to look for motorcyclists and other road users.
Drivers are urged to pay particular attention at at intersections and when making left turns.
ICBC data finds the biggest contributing factor for drivers involved in motorcycle crashes is distraction, followed by speed and following too closely.
The public insurer offers a few tips for drivers:
- When passing, leave at least one metre of space between the car and the motorcycle on slower roads, and 1.5 metres on roads with speed limits over 50 km/h.
- Stay alert – motorcycles are smaller than cars and can be harder to see.
- Motorcycle crashes in B.C. happen most often at intersections, so drivers should carefully scan “and take an extra moment to look for motorcycles when turning left.”
- Leave at least three to four seconds of following distance behind a motorcycle and always travel at a safe speed.