A Crash Course from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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A Crash Course

October
2007

  File under Web
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

No, it's not a course on how to crash, though that would no doubt be interesting, since it's not something you really learn in driving school (and let's face it, we all do fall at one stage or another). This article is about a crash course in crash management, ie, what to do when you're in a group and someone crashes.

Many of us ride our motorcycles in groups, be it a hand full of riders, or 100's of motorcycles. Riding in a group increases the risk of an accident! Not only do you increase the bravado factor (the one that makes you do things you wouldn't do on your own), but also you need to pay really close attention to what the riders in front of you do.

So what do you do if someone goes off and crashes? Obvious response is grab a mobile phone and call the Emergency Services. That's a good response, but in the mean time your fallen comrade is lying on the ground, bleeding and a possible target for a car coming on the same road. So you'll need to manage the crash scene, stabilize the victim and many other things.

Accident Scene Management

is a course held in most states in the USA that teaches you exactly that. They have several courses, from basic things (like moving heavy obstacles) to full CPR.

Since these are courses for the USA, you also get a crash course in dealing with the law and insurance companies. Heaven forbid you try to save your riding buddy, and the "buddy" turns against you and takes you to court. So you'll need to know how to cover yourself legally and financially.

These courses are an interesting concept, and well worth going to, especially if you're organizing ride-outs. I know of several of these initiatives (minus the lawyer bits) in the UK. Any other countries have these emergency courses??

Click here to read more about the course