The Crucial Role of Motorcycle Instructors in Weather-Related Decision Making

Prioritising Safety Over Sessions in Adverse Weather Conditions

Motorcycle riding in adverse weather presents significant risks. For motorcycle instructors, the decision to conduct training sessions in such conditions involves a careful assessment of risk versus reward. 

The stakes are high, not just in terms of rider safety but also regarding the legal and ethical implications of making the wrong call!

Would you want to be stood in the dock, trying to explain why you put learner riders at risk and earning a day’s wages worth putting a student at risk?

Understanding the Risks

Bad weather, particularly snow, ice, and torrential rain, can drastically affect riding conditions and student safety. 

Reduced visibility, slippery roads, and the cold can turn a routine training session into a perilous endeavor. You may have experience and know how to deal with certain situations, but novice riders do know fully understand the dangers.

It’s essential for instructors to recognise these hazards and weigh them against the educational value of the session.

The Instructor’s Responsibility

As gatekeepers of novice riders’ safety, instructors hold a critical role in assessing whether conditions are suitable for training. 

The adage ‘If in doubt, bottle out’ should be a guiding principle. 

Instructors must err on the side of caution, prioritising the safety and well-being of their students above all else. Risking new riders’ lives and safety is not worth the risk of getting ready for a test or just getting the job done.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Motorcycle Instructors should be aware of the potential legal consequences of their decisions. 

Taking a novice rider out in poor conditions could lead to accidents, raising questions about the instructor’s judgment in court. 

The liability is clear: if a session could reasonably be postponed, it should be.

Case in Point

Consider a scenario where an instructor decides to proceed with training during a snowstorm, or there has been prolonged minus temperatures with ice and black ice.

An accident occurs, leading to serious injuries. The decision to train in such conditions could be scrutinised legally, with dire consequences for both the instructor and the ATB. 

You have a duty of care to customers and students. The Instructor who is tasked with the training must make the decision and under no circumstance should they be overruled and forced to train.

Making Informed Decisions

Instructors must use all available information to make these decisions. Weather forecasts, road reports, and the physical condition of the training area should all be considered. 

Communication with students about the risks and the reasons for any decisions made is also crucial for maintaining trust and understanding.

Students do not want to cancel or see their training day aborted, they may well be up for the challenge. But rest assured if an incident was to occur, the finger would be pointed at the professional decision and not the students wishes!

Conclusion: Safety as a Teaching Tool

Ultimately, the decision to cancel or postpone a session can itself be a valuable teaching moment. 

It demonstrates to students the importance of making prudent decisions in the face of risky conditions. Instructors not only teach riding skills but also impart wisdom on when not to ride, which can be just as critical.

We urged you to maintain a conservative approach to weather-related risks. By doing so, you protect your customers and students, the profession, and the riding community’s perception of what good training schools look like.

The casting vote

It is a crucial role that Motorcycle Instructors have in weather-related decision making. Motorcycle Instructors should not be forced to train learner riders by their superiors. Taking risks is not necessary and will create problems if a student falls off the bike in bad weather conditions.