Motorcycle accidents waiting to happen

Have you ever seen the cartoon "I Am Weasel"? If you haven’t, try catching it on Cartoon Network and observe the two central characters IM Weasel and IR Baboon. In the cartoon, IM Weasel is an intelligent, eloquent and well-mannered uh… weasel while IR is a fumbling, mumbling stupid baboon who thinks that he’s better than "idiot weezel". Because the weasel is smart, he has achieved and accomplished a lot of things which makes the baboon envious. So IR Baboon tries to imitate IM Weasel but to disastrous results. After all, what can you expect from a pea-brained baboon other than accidents waiting to happen?

This analogy came to me one morning while I was riding my motorcycle to work. While I was waiting at a stoplight, a motorcyclist sped past my right, rode through a stop light and nearly got hit by a car that was about to cross the intersection. The rider, who was in police uniform and who was riding without a helmet, looked furiously at the car driver as if the near-accident was the car driver’s fault. He rode on after intimidating the hapless car driver and I caught up with him at the next stoplight.

I lifted my modular helmet and looked at him. He looked back and said "Haging na ako doon, ano? (I had a close call back there, right?)". I nodded to confirm but then added, "Tumawid ka kasi sa stop light na wala ka namang emergency. Kayong mga pulis ang dapat sumunod sa batas. Hindi dapat kayo ang pasimuno ng pagsuway nito. (It’s because you crossed a red light and you’re not responding to an emergency. You cops should be the ones following the law not violating it.)" He looked at me to seize me up but when he found out I was with media, he just sped off – after the light turned green, of course.

That incident would have been just another day on the road for most folks but unfortunately, that cop became another bad example on the road. With all those bad jeepney, bus, tricycle, taxi and some private car drivers and motorcyclists wantonly violating traffic laws, we don’t need another bad banana on the road, especially a cop on a civilian motorbike. Little did the violating police officer know that soon his actions will be emulated by other road users in a classic case of "monkey see, monkey do." To put it in this column’s perspective, the cop inspired other road users to become another IR Baboon or another accident waiting to happen.

Besides motorcyclists crossing a red light, listed below are more examples of accidents waiting to happen or IR Baboons in the making:

1. Motorcyclists riding without a helmet.

Section 56F of Memorandum Circular 89-105 issued July 10, 1989 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which is currently in effect, states that "a fine of P100.00 will be imposed on those not wearing helmets when driving (sic) or riding motorcycles." While the P100 fine is peanuts nowadays, having a head injury during a nasty fall is still serious and expensive matter. American custom bike builder Indian Larry and local actor Jay Ilagan are some examples of riders who had a slow, seemingly non-fatal fall from their bikes but died anyways because they weren’t wearing their helmets. How much is your head worth, IR?

2. Motorcyclists riding at night without headlights.

Section 23F and 23G of MC 89-105 states penalties for driving without or with defective headlights (23F) and taillights (23G) but as with most laws, these are often ignored. Headlights and taillights are important to enhance visibility, especially for motorcyclists. So those stupid baboons riding at night with defective taillights (no red lens) or without headlights should be flagged down and admonished to turn on their lights, especially the seldom-used low-watt light bulb in their brain. Are you enlightened, IR?

3. Motorcyclists riding beyond their skills.

The first law of riding a motorcycle is "Ride within your skills". Thus, if you’re a newbie, you should start with a small bike first and work up the motorbike displacement and size chart as your skills develop. However, some motorcyclists with more money than brains think that just because they can ride a bike, they can ride a high-powered 1000cc super sport bike immediately. On the other hand, some newbies mistakenly think that just because they can ride their motorbikes from Point A to Point B, they can bank and lean into every corner or speed up at any opportunity. Many riders have died with this mentality. Please don’t be like IR who thinks he can do everything when he really can’t do anything.

4. Motorcyclists riding fast without the proper riding gear.

There are many instances when I see youths wearing trekking shorts, T-shirts and sandals and riding on modified underbones or even 400cc bikes speeding along public roads. While some of them do wear helmets, their shorts, t-shirts and sandals aren’t the proper riding gear. There are now affordable riding jackets, pants and boots that are designed to protect riders during a fall or a crash. It would take a baboon to not know that it would be cheaper to buy gear than to pay for hospitalization after a nasty crash. Unless you’re like IR who likes to get banged up a lot.

5. Motorcyclists racing on public roads.

Racing should be done in a controlled environment, such as a closed course or a race track. Unfortunately, some riders who haven’t had any real racing experience or training do not know this reality. Reality will only hit them in the face when they crash into something or worse, someone, and they experience a world of hurt. So please, race only in race tracks or designated speed courses. Unlike cartoon characters like IR Baboon and IM Weasel, people who suffer injuries in illegal racing-related motorcycle crashes not only need a long time to recover, they might be doing their recovery in jail.

Again, if you’re tempted to do any of these things while riding your motorcycle, think of your safety first and avoid accidents before they happen. Besides, would you like to be called a baboon? Unless, of course, you’re IR.

Here are some of your Backseat Driver reactions from last week…

I have heard about an all new Honda CRV. When will it be launched? – James Reyes, QC (Observant and vigilant, are we, James? We wouldn’t want to pre-empt our friends from Honda Cars Philippines, but let’s just say that the new CRV is almost right around the corner. No fooling!)

The traffic along C5-Libis improved a lot when the U-turn slot near Eastwood was closed. I’m surprised it was re-opened. The traffic in the area has worsened again. – 09178393826

Motorcycle and bicycle riders should follow traffic rules, they should stop at red signals and not to cross on pedestrian lanes – 09209253056 (I’ve argued once before that some of you might actually be psychic. I am now thoroughly convinced! Either that or you guys secretly feed Lester ideas for column material…)

Speak out, be heard and keep those text messages coming in. To say your piece and become a "Backseat Driver", text PHILSTAR<space>FB<space>MOTORING<space>YOUR MESSAGE and send to 2840 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber or 2840 if you’re a Sun Cellular subscriber. Please keep your messages down to a manageable 160 characters. You may send a series of comments using the same parameters.)