Are motorbikes safer than cars?

By Réhann Coetzee

The short answer might be no, but it would not be a complete answer.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the US, a motorcyclist is 27 times more likely to die in a serious collision and almost five times more likely to be injured. This is very grim, but understandable.

If a car is in an accident, it has a number of safety systems to keep the driver safe: the seatbelt, airbags, crumple zones, side-impact protection bars and so on. And obviously a motorcycle has none of that.

But, on a motorcycle you have something that a motorist doesn’t: agility. You could get out of trouble, because a bike is light, small, fast and agile.

And personally I think motorcycling is a manageable risk. Go for training – often. Be visible. Wear a reflective jacket such as those sold by Think Bike (www.thinkbike.co.za). Wear the best protective gear you can afford. Or save to buy better gear. Not just a helmet and jacket; proper gloves, pants and boots.

And, even more important: ride within your ability. You know there is a risk to motorcycling, so ride with that knowledge in mind.