As summer approaches and the days become hotter, Skopje residents cannot wait to take their motorcycles out of their garages. According to statistics, in traffic accident over the summer period it is motorcyclists who face the highest risk of deadly injuries. Minors riding motorcycles without licenses, unaware of the consequences, causing headaches to other participants in traffic. But the problem is not with children, but rather their parents who buy them the motorcycles and give them permission to ride.
The Republic Council on Road Traffic Safety (RCRTS) informs that the injuries of a cyclist in case of an accident is unavoidable. According to scientific research, the chance of death of a motorcyclist in an accident is around 30 percent higher than a driver of a vehicle. Motorcyclists are only 0.5 percent of the total number of traffic participants, and almost 10 percent of the total number of killed or injured.
Although riding motorcycles has become quite the trend with young people, mainly minors, this past year this trend has begun to stabilize, RCRTS informs. However, the number of minors riding motors without license is not small and it must be taken to a minimum.
The responsibility for that occurrence, according to RCRTS comes from several sides.
"Firstly, we need stricter controls and fines, but even more responsible are the parents who purchase motors for their children at all cost, i.e. motors without some good technical performances for safety, without providing them with driving lessons, simply not being aware that they endanger their lives, and the safety of their children in traffic. Also, cyclists are no less responsible, mainly the young, who put their wish to impress before their life and health," the Council says.
Last year, 11 motorcyclists have died in traffic accidents. According to unofficial information of RCRTS, this year 2 cyclists have died so far.
The majority of the motorcyclist killed are aged between 25 and 34, and the most common are head injuries which have led to death, which confirms the necessity to use helmets.
Most common reasons for incidents are high speed and inadequate turning of vehicles.
Not wearing a helmet and additional gear for passive safety, is also a very serious problem which does not affect the fact if an accident is to happen or not, but it does, however, affect the gravity of the consequences.
The fines for not wearing a helmet is EUR 50. The Law does not imply obligatory carrying of the additional safety gear, though it is very efficient in preventing serious and deadly injuries. But, rarely any cyclist would purchase it, because it is expensive.
"Purchasing good quality gear has been left to the motorcyclists themselves, but the fact is the good gear implies a serious expense and cyclists most often will not purchase it, thus underestimating the risk and dangers they expose themselves to," RCRTS says.
The Council advises all motorcyclists to always have in mind that safety gear and helmet save lives.
According the current regulations, a person who has turned 18 can be granted the right to ride a motorcycle, and persons at the age of 16 can be granted the right to ride motorcycles which do not overpass 125 cubic meters of volume, light tricycles, tricycles, light quadricycles and quadricycles.