GET A GRIP! If you use 2 wheels instead of 4, you’ll know how important it is to have consistent grip under your tyres. Slipping on gravel or a manhole cover, especially in the wet, can be frightening at best, catastrophic at worst. If visibility is good you will probably try to take avoiding action, but that can make you alter your line - a potentially hazardous activity too!

Potholes can have exactly the same effect, but with the added danger of suspension and wheel damage, or extreme deflection into oncoming traffic.

Campaigning and raising awareness, can create change.

Across the UK there are in excess of 10 million inspection covers. Worn, cracked and displaced manhole or inspection covers create a hazard by creating areas of low skid resistance – often at key points along the carriageway. Covers are placed where the utility companies need to change the direction of pipes and drainage – usually on corners and often in the crown of the road. The appearance of a worn or damaged inspection cover in the path of a motorcyclist will often  lead to an instinctive swerve which could be potentially hazardous – as is the sudden variation of traction and the resulting loss of control.

We all ride in full awareness of the potential risks presented by ever changing types of road surfaces – and it is usually possible to adapt your riding accordingly, but inspection covers are motorcycling's equivalent of playing Russian Roulette.

But if you want to GET A GRIP! of the situation what do you do?
Do you know what to do or where to report, a serious road hazard?
Is there a way of letting the authorities know how the hazard impacts motorcyclists?
Manhole covers are a fact of life- we need access to water, gas and telecoms services, but can they be positioned off our optimum line?
Is there a safer way of providing access to the utilities?
Who is responsible? Come to think of it, who owns the covers?

GET A GRIP ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

• GET A GRIP! raises awareness of road surface safety issues.
• GET A GRIP! reports the problem
• GET A GRIP! works with Councils to create a safer environment for riders.
• GET A GRIP! campaigns for higher grip, cost effective, road surfaces.
• GET A GRIP! reduces injuries and costs.
• GET A GRIP! provides the solution
• If we all GET A GRIP! we can make the change.

Dangerous road surfaces or manholes – report them today here

GET A GRIP! - from the