Loud pipes save lives – share the space with bikers for the rally

By Dumisa Dlamini

Every year in August or the teething of September the Rider’s Ranch in Sidvokodvo hosts a bikers’ rally that draws hordes of riders and fanatics within and outside the country. Besides being a tourist attraction, this event has a way of impacting itself conspicuously in the traffic space. All the ports of entry in the country become a hive of activity, so would be our roads, as riders would pour in with motor bikes and other forms of transport. In the time past, there have been horrific traffic accidents caused as a result of poor sharing of the road between bikers and other modes of transport. For several years now, that space is being sanitized with road safety awareness so that all share the road and get to each other’s destinations as safely as possible. So much work has ben done and so much work still has to be accomplished for the safety of all.

SHARE ROAD SPACE WITH BIKERS

The two-wheeler automobile can and oftentimes drives and a high-speed making it difficult for bikers to bring same to a halt when an emergency arises. Oftentimes accidents are caused when motorist would, say, fail to indicate in time their intention to detour from mainstream traffic wherein a bike would be close by. Such situations have resulted in unanticipated crashes and because the biker would not be protected by a closed cabin, they would oftentimes than not, succumb to death. Some vehicles would change lanes without proper communication for those following, bikers inclusive, to take necessary preventative measures. That said, it is as much imperative to appeal to bikers that speed limits in a any road compel every driver and biker to be compliant with. It is prevalent to see bikers whizzing by in terrific speeds which under any circumstance that may confront them on the road, they are most likely to fail to bring their machines under control. During these times in August and early September, the traffic space would be abuzz with congestion, for that reason it is imperative that every road user is cautious especially by being adherent to road rules, markings, signage, and speed appropriate to the place they would be driving at.

WATCH OUT AND PROTECT OUR GIRLS AT UMHLANGA DANCE

Besides the frenzy brought about by the rally our girls would have been commissioned by Royalty for the annual Umhlanga Dance. The activity once again draws maidens all over the country to converge at royal residences whereupon they would be dispersed to places for cutting of the reed. The Fund appeals for caution amongst drivers, pedestrians and passengers during this august royal event so as to save lives of road users and that of the maidens as they leave their homes, communities and chiefdoms to the royal residences. Caution is given to the drivers who ferry them from these various places that they shouldn’t overload them nor drive in excessive speeds hence an accident may occur. For these two events, livestock owners in the peripherals of the road networks are requested to drive them away from the so as have the road space and clear and safe as possible.

TAKE AWAYS:

• Loud pipes save lives-give way to the biker
• Never ride without a license -you shall cause road crashes
• Indicate your intention and not your action, you may kill a biker
• They are young and free-spirited-save lives of maidens at umhlanga
• Ensure your safety and save lives of other road users