Death Rides on a Pale Horse with Two Wheels

The first ever horrific accident I heard about motorcycles when I was a child was of my older brother. That’s also the time I heard my father say that when you ride a motorcycle, your leg is already in the grave.

Lately when I drive, it’s not cars that I normally look out for but motorcycles! They just seem to come out from nowhere, to your left or right. What about the common sight of 3 or more passengers on one motorcycle. I am not even talking about  the “habal-habal” of the provinces where two planks of wood are balanced on a motorcycle where passengers are to be seated.

Just last weekend, I met an American who told me that his Filipina wife died a year ago in a motorcycle accident in Mintal. She was carrying her toddler daughter, a year and 4 months old, when they were hit by another vehicle. The driver died instantly. Her wife was brought to the hospital but later pronounced dead. Their daughter, miraculously, was flung away from the impact. Suffered bruises on the face and had to be rehabilitated for months. She was even advised by the doctor to wear a brace. Imagine a baby slowly learning how to walk and who might not be able to walk at all….

Out of all the accidents I’ve heard, there is this one that stayed in my mind for years . It was of a father taking his child to school in their motorcycle early in the morning.  The frail child seated at the back, grabbing hold of her father. And maybe because the travel was quite long, the child fell asleep, lost her hold and fell off…right in the path where another vehicle was following behind … The child died so tragically…and days after, because of a feeling of guilt, the father killed himself. Two senseless deaths because of one motorcycle ride.

Whenever I see a man and child on a motorcycle, I feel the need to open the car window and warn the driver about the danger of having that set-up.

According to a report from PNP, "a total of 209 cases of accidents involving motorcycles have been recorded in January this year, a significant increase compared to last year's record of 106 cases. Accidents almost doubled in one year!!

I would like to share these safety tips for when carrying a passenger on your motorcycle: 

• If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, can reach the footrests, wears a helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds.
• Instruct your passenger to limit movement and talking.
• Remember that the extra weight from carrying a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner.
• Exercise caution in quick stops, as a passenger can move forward and bump your helmet with theirs.
• Passing will require more time and space.
• The effects of the wind will be more distinct.
• Allow the passenger time to adjust to the speed of riding and the feeling of leaning.
• Make sure the passenger keeps all hands and feet away from hot or moving parts.
• The passenger should not make any sudden movements or turns.
• When crossing an obstacle, the passenger should stand on the motorcycle pegs with knees slightly bent, allowing the legs to absorb the shock upon impact.
• The motorcycle should be started before the passenger mounts.

Things Car and Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles

• Because motorcycles can be hard to spot, always look for them, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
• Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. Predict that a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
• Motorcycles often look like they are moving faster than they really are.
• Motorcyclists often slow down by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, therefore not activating a brake light. Allow 3 or 4 seconds of following distance and predict a motorcyclist may slow down at intersections without visual warning.
• Bikers often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to stray clear of road debris, passing cars, and wind. Understand that these position shifts aren't to be reckless, show off, or allow you to share a lane with them.
• When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as a motorcycle; think of it as a person.

There are a total of 7,000 motorcycle sales every week of the year. What with the low down-payment to own a unit, motorcycles sales are booming! Good for companies but not the masses. I am not sure if the government has taken steps in ensuring the safety of these riders. What kind of trainings or seminars are being given? There should be more precautions taken aside from the helmet law.

In another city, would you believe that the law there is it is prohibited to wear helmets? Outrageous,right?? But I guess, their priority there is to prevent killings done by motorcycle riders themselves. But that’s a whole different story.

Please do share this article to your loved-ones and hopefully in our own little way, help save lives.

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