Why is a journey by motorcycle up to 100 times more dangerous than the same journey by car? That was the key question addressed by the ‘Anatomy of Motorcycling’ event. At the event, organised by Zavarovalnica Triglav in collaboration with AMZS, Slovenian experts from a number of different fields took a close look at motorcyclists’ behaviour and tried to find the reasons why we have seen an increasing number of road deaths involving motorcyclists in the last few years. Slovenia’s largest insurance company also presented an innovation unique in Slovenia, the free DRAJV app for motorcycles, which rewards safer motorcycling.
Figures prove that the more than 50,000 regular users of DRAJV are safer drivers. ‘Our figures show that DRAJV users have a claims frequency that is around 15 to 20 per cent lower than those drivers who do not use it. Last year, DRAJV users drove more than 200 million safer kilometres; this year, we will reach the unbelievable milestone of one billion kilometres driven since the app was launched in 2015. This was also one of the main reasons why we decided to offer DRAJV to motorcyclists, who will be able to reduce their insurance premiums by up to 15 per cent with safer driving,” explained Jaka Klement, head of the car insurance department at Zavarovalnica Triglav. He pointed out that current practice shows that motorcyclists think hard about insuring their bikes, but less about themselves or about their own safety.
Relaxed on the bike
As telematics is an area that is developing with ever-increasing rapidity in Slovenia and around the world, the issue of the use of the data gathered in this way is also becoming more and more relevant. “The data collected on telephones, in cars or on motorbikes is acquiring a certain material value. It is proving its worth, its potential when it comes to motorcycle safety,” said Andrej Brglez, president of AMZS, mobility researcher and experienced motorcyclist.
Based on their own research into driver behaviour and data from areas where speed limits are exceeded, which is collected in anonymised form by the DRAJV app, Slovenia’s largest insurer has found that improving road safety requires systematic observation of drivers, data collection, constant monitoring of the effectiveness of individual measures and continuous learning. This is because drivers face different, more or less predictable situations on a daily basis, and their response depends on many factors, including various pressures and the individual driver’s personality traits.
“We live our lives at a very fast pace and we are constantly exposed to stress. This means that the level of stress hormones in our body, for example adrenalin or cortisol, is always high. These hormones ensure that every organ works faster. Then the weekend comes and we go out for a ride to relax a bit. Riding a motorcycle usually raises these hormone levels even higher. Add dopamine, the pleasure hormone, to the mix and you have a cocktail that can be very dangerous for a motorcyclist,” explains Irma Žuman, a psychologist and psychotherapist with many years’ experience of motorcycling.
A “false” sense of security
Infrastructure can be responsible for additional feelings of safety or indeed danger. According to Goran Jovanović, road safety assessor at the Traffic Safety Agency, infrastructure can also have a significant impact on motorcyclists’ behaviour on the roads. “If you look at the statistics for last year alone, you will very quickly see that road infrastructure was not mentioned as a cause in any fatal road accident. Nevertheless, we know that we could see fewer motorcycle fatalities or serious injuries if we made improvements to road infrastructure”. He sees the solution in different road infrastructure planning that is more motorcycle-friendly.
The dangers of ego
Those present at the consultation also exchanged views on various other aspects of motorcycle safety, and one of the key points to emerge from the discussion was that the motorcyclist is frequently not only the problem but also the solution. At the end of the event, Miha Šalehar, himself a committed motorcyclist, made a point of stressing the importance of understanding motorcyclists’ behavioural patterns: “A motorbike is an ego moment and that ego can lead you into potentially dangerous areas.”
A few more facts about the new DRAJV app for motorcyclists
If you use the DRAJV app as a motorcyclist, you can get a discount of up to 15% on your liability insurance, liability+ insurance and fully comprehensive insurance. You can use the DRAJV app to monitor your riding and at the same time improve your road habits. You can use DRAJV and collect discounts as a car driver and a motorcyclist – just make sure you choose the vehicle type in your app profile every time you set off. If you use DRAJV as a motorcyclist, the measurement and analysis of the journey is adjusted to more dynamic driving. The overall score given to your ride by the app depends on the speed and, to a lesser extent, on force of acceleration, braking and cornering. Before you set off, make sure your phone is safely fixed to the handlebar cradle, although you could also stow it in a backpack or pocket.
