African News Agency
South Africa’s ER24 emergency service has called on all road users to be more alert and courteous after it said it had been called out to more than 300 motorbike incidents this year.
“Sadly, many bikers either lost their lives or suffered serious or critical injuries,” ER24 said.
“Incidents included collisions between bikers and vehicles, as well as bikers losing control of their motorcycles and crashing. Several cyclists have also either been killed or critically injured.
“One of the worst incidents this year was that of a cyclist who was killed when he collided with a vehicle about 30km outside Nelspruit. The man’s body was found in half on the front passenger side of the vehicle,” said ER24 spokesperson Chitra Bodasing.
Hugh Brown, from the ER24 Motorcycle Medical Response Unit, said: “As a biker and medic it is worrying to see the extent of injuries suffered during these incidents.” Seeing first-hand the horror of death by decapitation, Brown said, he was lucky to have escaped serious injury thus far.
Brown gave the following advice:
l Motorists and riders should not allow themselves to be distracted.
l Do not speed.
l Slow down, keep your anger in check.
l Wear approved protective gear. A quality helmet and decent jacket have saved bikers from serious harm. The more gear a rider wears, and the better quality, the better.