Motorcycles do not tolerate mistakes!
Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener, who evaluated the fact that it became possible for people with a class B driver's license who meet some conditions to use motorcycles with the amendment made in the Road Traffic Regulation, pointed out that this official regulation has the potential to bring significant losses. Stating that we should take the necessary precautions by considering a large increase of 1 million new motorcycles from year to year, Şener expressed that "Motorcycles do not tolerate mistakes. Driver's license acquisition processes need to be made more difficult, not easier."
Üsküdar University Occupational Health and Safety Department Instructor and Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener evaluated the fact that the amendment made in the Road Traffic Regulation allows people with a class B driver's license who meet some conditions to drive motorcycles.
Motorcycles up to 125 cc can be used if they meet certain conditions
Özgür Şener reminded that with the amendment made to the Road Traffic Regulation on February 10, 2024, it became possible for people with a class B driver's license who meet certain conditions to use motorcycles, and according to the published regulation, it is stated that those who have a valid class B driver's license for at least 2 years in terms of experience can use motorcycles up to 125 cc by fulfilling certain conditions.
Will this legal change that makes it easier to use motorcycles increase traffic accidents?
Şener also stated that motorcycles engaged in all kinds of commercial activities are specified as an exception here, and continued as follows:
"In our country, there are approximately 1 million 200 thousand traffic accidents that are officially recorded every year. Although it varies from year to year in these accidents, 5,000-7,000 people lose their lives every year, and 250,000-300,000 people are injured. A study conducted by the General Directorate of Security revealed that the annual financial loss of traffic accidents is 108 billion Turkish liras.
When we think about this serious picture with deaths that we cannot reverse and injuries that cannot be the same as before, we need to understand the need for this legal change that will almost certainly increase the negative effects of traffic accidents and make it easier to use motorcycles."
The motorcycle does not have a structure that protects the driver and the passenger
Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener pointed out that riding a motorcycle is a very enjoyable activity and said that "However, the most critical feature that distinguishes a motorcycle from a car is that it does not have a structure that protects the driver and the passenger, if there is any. Cars and other road vehicles with bodywork have a lot of equipment that increases driver and passenger safety: door bars and vehicle body, seat belts, airbags, etc. In motorcycles, the most important protection material is the protective helmet and other protective equipment. For this reason, this enjoyable activity unfortunately turns into a gamble on life and death for a motorcycle user who does not have the necessary traffic safety infrastructure, does not have sufficient knowledge, skills and experience, does not use the necessary personal protective equipment, and does not comply with traffic rules, especially speed selection."
The number of motorcycles in traffic increased from 3 million to 5 million...
Pointing out that there has been a very serious increase in the number of motorcycles and motorcycle users with the increase in motorcycle couriers, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener said that while the number of motorcycles in traffic was 3 million 331 thousand 326 at the end of 2019, this number reached around 5 million 80 thousand in 2023.
Explaining that the number of motorcycles registered to traffic in 2021 was 3 million 744 thousand 370, the number of motorcycles involved in traffic accidents with death and injury was 64 thousand 479, the number of people killed was 777 and the number of injured people was 56 thousand 257, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener stated "In 2022, the number of motorcycles registered to traffic was 4 million 141 thousand 914, the number of motorcycles involved in traffic accidents with death and injury was 71 thousand 270, The number of people killed is 791 and the number of injured is 61 thousand 482. While we do not tolerate a single loss of life or a single injury in traffic accidents, we should understand and evaluate the increase in the number of deaths and injuries in just one year."
"This official amendment has the potential to bring about significant losses"
Noting that in the studies and trainings carried out in the field, it was seen that drivers did not know even the traffic signs, which are the most basic knowledge of traffic, Şener said that "While we need to make significant changes in the processes of obtaining a driver's license, and we need to give driver's licenses to people who have the awareness and knowledge of 'Safe Driving' and can apply them to their driving, and periodically renew their training, this official regulation that facilitates the use of motorcycles has significant losses There is no doubt that it has the potential to bring.”
Noting that people who want to get rid of the traffic density use two-wheeled transportation vehicles such as motorcycles and electric scooters, Şener made the following remarks:
"We anticipate that the preference of transportation vehicles such as motorcycles and electric scooters, which provide easy transportation, will increase until comfortable public transportation systems are established that provide access to a large part of the city.
"Driver's license acquisition processes need to be made more difficult, not easier"
When we evaluate all these, to reduce traffic accidents, which is one of the important problems of our country, the processes of obtaining a driver's license should be made more difficult, not easier. For all types of vehicles that will be on the road, we should establish, operate and ensure that each driver's license is issued at the same standards by inspecting it very seriously, based on 'Safe Driving' and providing a 'Traffic Culture' infrastructure.
By evaluating the structure of the motorcycle, the potential for injury and death of the user and passenger, if any, as a result of the accident, we should take this issue much more seriously for motorcycle riders. We should make it harder, not easier. Considering a huge increase of 1 million new motorcycles year on year, we must take the necessary measures. We should all know very well that motorcycles do not tolerate mistakes."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)