RIDING BICYCLES AND MOTORBIKES SAFETY
We have a number of senior students who are licensed, and registered with our school, that ride motorbikes to school. We also have a number of students who ride bicycles to school.
This week 3 of our students were involved in road accidents – one on a bicycle, and two on motorbikes. No student was at fault in their accident, and fortunately, as all were wearing helmets and not traveling at speed, the worst injury was a broken ankle. The recent death of a Dyatmika student, and the death of one of our own students a number of years ago, have shown the results can be tragically different
Accidents will happen. What we as parents need to do is: firstly, to mitigate the risk of our children being involved in an accident and secondly, should an accident occur, we need to ensure our children have an emergency plan in place.
- Mitigating Risk
- Ensure your child wears a suitable helmet at all times both on a motorbike and a bicycle. Skin and bone heals. Head injuries may not.
- Ensure your child is familiar with the route they are riding and potential hazards on those routes. Practice runs on weekend mornings are a good idea.
- Teach your child to ‘expect the unexpected’. Defensive riding is the key.
- No headphones – riding in Bali is a very auditory experience. If someone ‘beeps’ they expect you to react.
- Obey the rules of the road – while rules are loosely applied in Bali, obeying them will reduce risk.
- Emergency Plan
- Primary aged children should be accompanied by an adult who will take responsibility in the event of an accident.
- Secondary students should carry a hand phone with the following numbers:
- Parents/carers
- School number (0361 288770)
- Chosen medical facility.
- Secondary students should carry ID and contact numbers in their wallet/purse/school bag.
- Teach your child how to attach ‘location’ using WhatsApp (it is an attachment option when sending a message with WhatsApp) so they easily direct you/us to the accident.
How can BIS help?
If the school is made aware of your child’s accident we can:
- If you are not contactable we will act ‘in loco parentis’ – on your behalf.
- Mobilize medical care
- Have our police attend the scene
- Mobilize our security to help