Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/467065
XVI maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2015 Motoring NEW CITROËN C4 www.citroen.com.mt Michael Attard Ltd. – Citroën Showroom, Mdina Road, Attard – T: 2144 2005 / 2248 2602 – E: citroensales@michaelattard.com Combined consumption (l/100 km): from 3.8 to 4.3. CO2 emissions (g/km): from 88 to 99. CITROËN C4 CACTUS Citroën Malta 0896. Citroen - C4 Cactus - 18x5.indd 1 22/10/2014 14:04 Ten things all motorists should know about motorcycles Let's face it: While motorcycles are cool, they just aren't as safe as cars. To some people, that's part of the ap- peal. Living life on the edge and tak- ing risks can be part of what makes riding a motorcycle rewarding. Motorcycles can travel as fast as cars do, but lack car safety features most people take for granted. Motor- cycles don't have an exterior frame to absorb crash forces. Instead, the forces of a collision are borne directly by the bike and the rider. Motorcy- cles also don't have seatbelts, which increases the rider's risk of being thrown off the bike in an accident. Finally, there's that little matter of be- ing on two wheels. Motorcycles are simply not as stable as cars. But riding a motorcycle doesn't have to be an exercise in cheating death. Motorcycles may be inher- ently less safe than cars are, but there are a lot of things motorists can do to keep everyone safe. 1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle -they ignore it (usually unintention- ally). 2. Because of its small size, a mo- torcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at in- tersections. 3. Because of its small size, a mo- torcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks. 4. Motorcyclists often slow by down- shifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more follow- ing distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a mo- torcyclist may slow down with- out visual warning. 5. Motorcyclists often adjust po- sition within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them. 6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially be- ginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcy- cle's signal is for real. 7. Maneuverability is one of a mo- torcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to al- ways be able to dodge out of the way. 8. Stopping distance for motorcy- cles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because you can't always stop "on a dime." 9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle - see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neigh- bor, or relative. 10. If a driver crashes into a motor- cyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.