MAG’d it at last
As mentioned in the last post, I’ve become a bit of a riders rights evangelist. Having subscribed to the MAG activists email list and written a few letters to MEPs, and received the generally condescending replies, I have become convinced that MAG is an essential organisation if we are to protect our pastime. So I’ve taken the plunge and shelled out the £25 to join.
It appears that the EU Commission is intent on legislating the motorcyclist off the roads. So far as I can see the measures being proposed will have very little impact on the accident statistics and are centered around addressing the symptoms rather than changing the attitudes at the root of the issue.
Now, I don’t want to sound as if I’m anti car, I’m not, in fact far from it. I’m fortunate enough to have a job that comes with a car and old enough to know the wisdom of opting for the car over the bike in adverse conditions. I drive a car over 30,000 miles every year and have done for the last 20 years. However, as a motorcyclist as well and a car driver of over 30 years experience I have observed a drastic downward slide in driving standards. So few car drivers pay the attention our busy roads need these days. Consequently motorcyclists get forgotten or ignored and hence the increase in accidents. Even the DfT studies show 70% of accidents involving motorcyclists are caused by car driver errors.
I for one will not lie down and let politicians legislate me off the road and neither should you. If MAG, FEMA and other such lobbying organisations are going to keep up the pressure then they need our pennies. Join up today and help protect the future of motorcycling.