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Belize City, Monday, July 29, 2024
Another motorcycle accident; another precious life lost. (See the story “Motorcyclist killed at Spanish Lookout RTA” below.)
Over the past few years, due to the increase in fuel prices and road congestion, especially in towns, there has been a clear trend of road users switching to motorcycles as they are easier to manoeuvre on narrow streets and roads and more importantly save a lot of fuel costs.
One of the little-mentioned perks of motorcycle transportation is the exhilaration riders get from having the wind blowing through their hair and faces as they hurtle down the road. Some claim it’s even intoxicating.
However, evidence on the roads so far suggests that there are negative side effects to the convenience and enjoyment of motorcycling, which could be significantly reduced with greater caution and adherence to traffic rules. Unfortunately, many riders, especially young males, tend to ride motorcycles as a sport, weaving in and out of traffic and performing many dangerous maneuvers.
But if “don’t drink and drive” is advice for drivers of regular cars, who are somewhat protected in cars and SUVs, it should be an absolute rule for motorcycle drivers. Drunk riding a motorcycle, as well as any reckless driving, can be a death sentence, because the body is completely exposed in any collision. There are car accidents where it is said that the car is almost wrecked, and “miraculously” the driver and passengers only have minor scrapes and bruises. This is not the case in any type of motorcycle collision, where our entire body is exposed and can be crushed by metal or the road.
It is time for Belizeans to take motorcycle riding more seriously and be more careful and observant of traffic rules. We have lost too many loved ones to motorcycle accidents on our highways, in our villages, cities and towns. This motorcycle epidemic must stop.
A motorcyclist died at the Spanish observatory RTA
By Charles Gladden
Spanish Lookout, Cayo District, Monday, July 29, 2024
On Saturday, July 27, a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a dump truck in the Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout.
The body of the deceased driver is currently being stored in the morgue and has not yet been identified. The accident was fully recorded by surveillance cameras. The video shows that the truck was driving on Iguana Creek Road and began to slow down to turn right.
The motorcycle was approaching at high speed as the truck was turning. One explanation for the accident is that the speeding motorcyclist tried to overtake the truck on the passenger side as it turned, causing the truck and motorcycle to collide, crushing the motorcycle and leaving the driver lying motionless on the road.
The truck driver quickly stopped the car and tried to help.
Police Chief Chester Williams said at a news conference that the driver was at fault.
“There is a video recording which clearly shows the negligence of the rider. The truck had turned towards the yard and he hit it directly. If he had paid attention, he would have seen the truck turning and that accident could have been avoided,” he said.
He went on to say that the number of fatalities in motorcycle accidents has increased throughout the year due to reckless driving by motorcyclists.
“The rules of the road apply to them as well. Motorcyclists think or drive in a way as if the rules of the road do not apply to them. They overtake on the wrong side. They see a car coming and still overtake it. They commit several violations while riding their motorcycles which poses a threat to their health and that is why we see many deaths due to motorcycle accidents,” ComPol Williams said.
Police are investigating the accident.
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