Joys, Sorrows, and Challenges with Motorcycles

cycle accidents including fatalities are on the rise in the country for several reasons.

Some motorcyclists abuse improved highways to drive way above the prescribed speed limit. A few bikers even boast of aiming to push their machines to the fastest speed, until it ‘bucks’. That’s certainly is very irresponsible behavior that endangers the lives of the biker and other road users.

By Hon. Gilroy Usher, Port Loyola

“The driver on the street is not safe when he reads the sign, but when he obeys them.”

-Aiden Tozer

Almost every weekend a group of motorcyclists engage in wheelie and other stunts on the Chetumal Road between the bridge and the road to the P.G.I.A. And over the last week, at least three persons lost their lives as they were traveling on motorcycles. The last two fatalities were co-workers Aurelio Ayala, 42, and Joana Samoza, 21, from the Cayo District.

Due to low cost in comparison to a four-wheel vehicle, there is an abundance of motorcycles in urban and rural areas throughout the country. Motorcycles are easy to operate. Their maintenance is manageable even by persons earning a minimum wage. Motorcycles consume little fuel and their parts and repair cost are manageable by most persons even if their income is small.

It is much cheaper for to travel on a motorcycle instead of public transportation. On busy streets motorcycles enable quicker movement between vehicle. These two wheeled machines enable job for scores of delivery employees of restaurants, hardware stores, hotels, and other businesses. Families benefit.

Motorcycles give many the joy and satisfaction of being at the forefront of the annual Cross Country Race at top speed from Belize City to San Ignacio and back to the finish line in old capital. Outside of the Cross Country race motorcycles enable persons to trill spectators including ladies and enjoy a super high of invincibility as they race through villages and main streets in urban areas at unbelievable speed and become known as local Daredevils.

Not everything is fun with motorcycles, they are also responsible for scores of untimely death, broken homes, and futures crushed forever. My late uncle Cleveland Lord was a lover of motorcycles. Four plus decades ago, every summer, he enjoyed driving his large motorcycle like those old big police bikes over 70 miles from Orange Walk Town to our home in the village of Bermudian Landing in the Belize District. In those times there were far less vehicles on the highways and in the villages and towns. If Cleveland was around now, the same trip would be like Russian roulette, a big gamble with death. Over the past years, traffic on the main streets and roads has increased by leap and bounds. That reality has made the use of motorcycles to travel riskier especially on the highways. A few decades ago the eldest child and very promising son of the Hemsley family on Faber’s Rd. lost his life instantly, when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the wall of the MCC ground opposite Princess Casino. Motor-

A number of motorcyclists have been involved in fatal or life changing accidents, because they travel without using safety helmets or they travelled at night without the necessary lights and reflector clothing to warn approaching vehicles of their presence on the road. Other motorcyclists have been involved in accidents because of overtaking on curves, overtaking a line of three to four vehicles, or driving too much towards the center of the road. This doesn’t leave sufficient space for fast moving vehicles to past them at a safe distance.

Despite awareness of the danger on the highways and other roads for motorcyclists at night, some persons simply develop the terrible habit of being on their bikes when it’s already dark night. By repeatedly not leaving for home or other destinations in time, they endanger their and other’s lives.

Most motorcyclists do their best to observe the traffic laws for their own safety and the safety of all other travellers. Nevertheless, a number of motorcyclists are involved in traffic accidents, which range from minor to fatal as a result of other reckless drivers on the road. It is therefore very important that motorcyclists travel with extreme caution even when the law is on their side including when they have the right of way.

About two years ago, a motorcyclist, who was traveling at a high speed on the George Price Highway, lost his life suddenly around mile 41. He collided with a pickup truck that suddenly tried to cross the highway to a gas station that was on the opposite side of the road. The deadly experience drives home the point that like all other motorists, motorcyclists need to travel with extreme caution even when the law is on their side, even when they have the right of way as the unfortunate biker had 500%.

The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the various town boards are doing everything possible to help ensure the safety of all road users including our motorcyclists.

To enjoy a long and happy life, motorcyclists must recognize that with better roads, better and faster motorcycles, far more vehicular traffic on the road, and the unfortunate increase in the number of less cautious drivers owning a motorbike whether large or small in 2023 opens one to joyous moments as well as moments of sorrows, and challenges. The best way to avoid the last two experiences is by always going the extra mile to practice good road safety measures at all times.