Bikers 24 times more likely to die in road crashes

Motorcyclists in Ireland are 24 times more likely to die in road crashes than car drivers, according to a report published yesterday.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) report shows that at least 6,200 motorcyclists died in crashes across the European Union last year.

This represents 16 per cent of the total road deaths for the year, while motorcyclists represent only 2 per cent of the total kilometres driven. So far this year, 31 motorcyclists and two pillion passengers have died on Irish roads, representing 10 per cent of total road deaths.

However, based on the number of kilometres travelled, Irish motorcyclists are 24 times more likely to die in a road crash than a car driver, compared to the EU average of 18 times. In Norway, where bikers are safest, they are only six times more likely to die than car drivers, while in Slovenia they are more than 50 times more likely, according to the ETSC study.

Ireland has a motorcycle death rate of 103 per billion kilometres travelled, leaving it 12th on the list of 22 countries. The Republic, along with Spain, the Netherlands, France, Britain, Belgium, Estonia and Poland, has above-average rates of motorcyclist deaths. The European average is 86 rider deaths per billion kilometres travelled.

Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Finland are the least dangerous places to ride, with average rider deaths of between 30 and 45 per billion kilometres. Germany, Portugal, Austria, Sweden and Greece have rates just below the EU average. In Latvia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, riders are suffering death rates of above 200 per billion kilometres.

The road safety group has called on governments across the EU to enforce the wearing of helmets and to install cameras to detect speeding bikers. It has also called for improved rider and driver training with regard to hazards related to motorcycling and the addressing of specific needs of motorbike riders in road design and road maintenance.

"We came out average but we have seen a significant improvement in bikers' safety in the last five years," Brian Farrell of the Road Safety Authority (RSA)said. "In 2001, we were seeing 50 to 60 deaths a year. Now it is down to about 30."

Research carried out by the RSA at the Motorbike and Scooter Show earlier this year shows that 49 per cent of bikers said they had received rider training lessons. This represents an 18 per cent increase on 2003.

Mr Farrell said new measures published in October's Road Safety Strategy had been introduced. From December 1st, learner bikers have been required to wear high-visibility vests with learner stickers on the back.

Compulsory basic training for learner bikers is set to be introduced by the end of next year.