The majority of our field management staff use motorbikes as a source of transport to get around the schools in the quest to support the provision of quality education. As a matter of fact, this requires each one of them be a licensed motorbike rider before they can safely start using a motorbike. As such, taking up riding a motorbike comes with a set of serious safety considerations distinct from other vehicles. Even though we have mix of riders, some who have ridden for over 5 years others for less than a year, everyone enjoys the benefits of participating in a motorbike safety training.

Driving school and driving training is not required to get a license in Zambia and the majority of our managers learn to ride when they accept a field position. In 2021, we started to hold mandatory motorbike safety training 3 times a year, much to the appreciation of our staff. This year, our first was held in April over the term break and focused on blind spots and avoiding collisions. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out on a bike or an experienced rider, motorbike safety trainings are truly helpful. Not only does it inform new riders about the parts of the motorbike, but is also foundational to being a confident rider. It also helps new riders get in the right mindset for riding on the road, and for taking the motorbike license test. For experienced riders, it provides a healthy refresher for anything they may have forgotten or may have gotten out of habit of doing that would keep them safer on the road. It also gives them a chance to revisit the basics while simultaneously learning new safety drills and crash avoidance tactics.

The trainings we provide are tailored to the skills needed for the typical terrain between our schools, which is uneven, rocky and sandy roads that often become slippery in the rainy season. We try and have trainings around that, such as riding down a slippery hilly, and how to move in curved and narrow roads. In all instances the focus is on the safety of the rider and making sure the bike is efficiently used in all these situations.

Part of staying safe on the road is having the skills and strategies for defensive driving, especially when you are on a motorbike. Safety training helps reinforce how to identify and respond to safety risks from other drivers and keep you on your toes for how to respond to other drivers whenever they’re posing safety threats. We want our riders as sharp as possible while on the road and knowledgeable enough it manage simple fixes when off the road! This includes a series of checks before riding, topping up oil, replacing bulbs and tightening anything that comes loose in addition to mending or replacing tires.

We’re all looking forward to the next session in August!

This week’s email comes from Lweendo Maanya, our Logistics & Community Relations Lead. Thank you, Lweendo!

The Art of Motorcycle Safety Training...