Staying safe on your motorbike

MOTORBIKE riders are being urged to take their safety seriously and always wear a helmet that complies with safety standards and protective clothing.

October is Motorcylist Awareness Month and Ambulance Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission are encouraging community to think before they put their foot to the pedal.

Last year, Victorian Ryan Leitch was lucky to survive when he crashed his motorbike going around a bend from his basketball refereeing job.

The 21-year-old hit a ditch, launched his bike into an electrical pole and flew through a fence and landed at the bottom of a tree in someone’s garden.

When Ambulance Victoria paramedics arrived, they weren’t sure he would make it.

“There were bits of motorbike smashed all over the grass in front of the property and a big hole in the fence,” paramedic Robert Van Der Toorren said.

“Ryan was five or 10 metres into the property under a tree, not in a good way.”

Ryan suffered significant injuries including multiple complex fractures and further fractures to his skull, eye socket, face, ribs, femur and hip.

At the scene, he received critical life-saving care from specialist mobile intensive care ambulance staff and advanced life support paramedics.

Ryan gave himself the best chance of survival by wearing protective gear including a helmet and full body leathers.

“Wearing all his protective gear saved his life,” Van Der Toorren added.

“While the crash broke his bones, his gear saved his brain and his skin.

“You’re always more vulnerable on a bike, so doing everything you can to protect yourself is the single best thing you can do, regardless of length of journey or the weather.”

Just over a year on from the accident, Ryan has relearnt how to walk and is back at work.

“I treated my recovery like it was life or death for pretty much 12 months,” he said.

“Cognitively, my brain is healing and I’m trying to find myself a bit, and work out my priorities in life.

“I want to get back on a motorbike eventually. It’s never going to be as a form of transport again and not as often, but I want to ride at least one more time.”

Ryan urged other motorbike riders to ride safely, not only for their sake, but for those around them.

“Adjust your behaviour to do everything you can to make sure you come home safely to your loved ones.

“If you take a high risk, you’re not really the only one taking it. It will impact everyone around you if something goes wrong.”

To learn more about staying safe on a motorbike, head to tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/road-users/motorcycle-riders