Everyone has a role in motorcycle safety & preventing collisions

British Columbia, with its mild climate and wide sweeping roads, is a popular destination for motorcyclists. This popularity comes at a cost, however, especially in the Okanagan and the Kootenays: according to BC Coroner and Interior Health data, 36 per cent of motorcycle deaths in the province happened in the Interior in 2020. An average of 160 motorcyclists a year are treated in Interior Health hospitals – a priority concern for trauma physicians like Dr. Ravi Sunder.

“Our motorcycling population makes up a high proportion of the major traumas we care for in the summer months,” he says. “They sustain injuries at a higher rate than those in other vehicles, and their injuries are more severe. Prevention is the key to reducing their injuries and deaths.”

He adds, “As a driver, I try to remain vigilant and aware of motorcycles. I have my kids help by competing to see who can spot motorcyclists first when we are in our car together.” 

Experts like Megan Klammer, an injury prevention and safety promotion lead for Interior Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control, work to ensure our roads are safe for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.

A lifelong motorcyclist herself, Megan says, “Roads are engineered in the best way possible – but not always for motorcyclists. And engineering is just one way we can improve safety.”

“In my injury prevention role at IH, we use a safe systems, Vision Zero approach, which focuses on building layers of safety into our road systems, and finding ways to prevent road-related injuries and deaths. Governments, road designers, builders and managers, and road users all share responsibility for creating safe systems for all, including motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.”

Like Cathy, 46-year-old Missy Cutler of Penticton was a long-time dirt bike rider and racer before trying road riding. Two years ago, she got her road licence and bought a Harley-Davidson.

“I enjoy the exhilaration and freedom of two wheels on the road, and it’s easier on my body than dirt biking,” says Missy. “I ride to work and appointments. The boys in my grade five class think I’m the raddest teacher ever,” she jokes.

“But the transition from dirt to road has been hard. I was scared. I’m not in control of what other drivers do. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people texting in their laps, which is unnerving. I ride very defensively – I look for the driver’s face in the mirror, and I never assume they can see me. And I wear all my gear.”

Riding defensively and for the conditions, and wearing the right gear, are values that Megan not only advocates for in her work, but ones she lives by. Wearing a white helmet over a black helmet, for example, can lower risk of collision by 24 per cent.

Says Megan, “As part of defensive riding, you have to consider at some point you will crash. People don’t always see you, so you have to anticipate they will drive like you aren’t there. And riding within the speed limits is a single significant factor to reduce your risk of fatality.

“As a motorcyclist, ask yourself before you even go, ‘Can I give my full focus to the ride? Am I wearing bright protective gear? Is my bike in excellent condition with available safety features like daytime running lights and anti-lock braking?’ Then, ride in a way that offers a best-case scenario if this is the day something happens.”

She also has this blunt advice for drivers, which, unlike motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, aren’t considered vulnerable road users.

“As a driver, you’re in a machine that weighs thousands of pounds that can kill people. Motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians don’t have ‘crash packaging.’ So we all have to respectful and responsible. We all have to look out for each other,” Megan says.

Ten months after her injury, Cathy was back on her motorcycle. Less than two years later, she took up snowboarding and today rides double-black diamond runs.

“I did everything right that day,” says Cathy. “I was wearing my gear and my prescription glasses. What I did do wrong was I got a bit complacent. When you’re on a dirt bike, you’re constantly vigilant for rocks, ruts, trees, etc. I was on a highway with light traffic, and I let my guard down.”

She adds, “This event profoundly affected my life, but in entirely good ways. Everything I do now, every decision, is the product of that. You can let something like this destroy you – or you can use it to build you up into something that’s greater than your expectations.”

*Not her real name.

May is Motorcycling Safety Awareness Month in Canada. Organizations like ICBC and the Motorcycling Confederation of Canada publish helpful resources for motorcyclists and drivers to help them stay safe on the roads:

• Motorcycle safety for riders and drivers | ICBC
• All the gear, all the time (ATGATT) | ICBC
• Motorcycle safety – the rider and the gear | BC Government
• Motorcycling Confederation of Canada | Safety, resources and articles

Whether you’re a motorcyclist or a driver, you can do your part to prevent injuries, collisions and deaths.

For motorists:

• Be motorcycle aware, especially in the warmer months when there are more motorcyclists on the roads.
• Have everyone in the car look for the motorcyclists like Dr. Sunder’s family does.

For motorcyclists:

• Review motorcycle safety resources.
• Do a pre-ride check, wear the right gear, and ensure you are alert and that you and your bike are ready for the conditions.
• Adopt the defensive driving mentality “I’m invisible.”