Call for bikers to have basic training
The warning from one of the country’s leading training centres came as three motorcyclists were killed in separate accidents in the past two days. IRTA said basic training is a minimum requirement to help cut the high death rate amongst motorcyclists.
National Safety Council figures issued last week showed an average of one motorcyclist was killed each week on the roads in the first six months of this year. Motorcyclists make up less than 2% of the population but account for 15% of road fatalities each year. IRTA director Tricia Warner said the lack of training was the main reason for the high death rate. She added: “We are doing our best to instil the need for training. Unfortunately, we have a system in this country where you can get a provisional license in the post, go to a bike shop and wobble home on a bike thinking you can ride it.”
In May, Hibernian Insurance threatened to stop providing insurance for provisional licence holders unless the Government agreed to make basic training compulsory for new provisional licensees. The Government agreed to examine the proposal. Hibernian suspended its action pending the release of Government plans, due before the end of this year.
IRTA said this training will not be enough as it will only cover new applications for licences, not the 70% of current motorcyclists on provisional licenses, some for as long as 15 years.
Two of the three motorcyclists killed in the past two days are from Cork. Thomas Lane, 23, from Ballinalough, Co Cork died in a crash early yesterday morning in Bandon, Co Cork. In a separate incident, Michael Linehan, 34, of Bridgetown, Inniscarra, Co Cork, died after colliding with a truck in Enfield, Co. Meath early on Monday morning. A 28-year-old motorcyclist also died in a crash on Sunday night. There is no suggestion any of the motorcyclists were inadequately trained.
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