Statistics show the death toll from motorcycle accidents in Sweden has fallen by 40% since 2018, an achievement attributed to the building of a safety culture.
The Swedish Motorcyclists’ Club (SMC) says it has made great efforts over the past years to increase road safety, incuding the promotion of safety information, advanced training, campaigning for improved road maintenance and regulations, and standardisation of protective clothing and helmets. The SMC has also carried out its own research, largely financed by membership fees.
SMC says that although riding a motorcycle will never be risk free, it “isn’t dangerous to ride a motorcycle if you do everything right”. Jesper Christensen, general secretary of the club – which is a member of FEMA (the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations) – says: “You can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries dramatically by getting a valid licence before riding a bike, always ride sober without using alcohol or/and illegal drugs, choose a motorcycle with modern technology such as ABS and always use good protective gear and a helmet. Finally, if you ride at a reasonable speed and interact with other traffic, you can reduce the risk further. This is something every motorcyclist knows.
“I am happy and proud that we managed to achieve the goals for Zero Vision on our own. SMC has created a safety culture among the Swedish riders in the motorcycle community through information, training and advocacy. Swedish motorcyclists are safety conscious and we want to come home safe to the ones we love – like all other road users.”
Christensen continues: “When you ask a motorcyclist where they formed their safety awareness, the answer is within the motorcycle community. Friends, the motorcycle club, advanced courses, magazines, websites, social media, forums and other places where SMC is playing an active part.”