Still On Power Bikes And Smartphones

Road Safety

Once upon a time, I met Chris Kehinde Nwandu, (CKN) an ardent supporter of Arsenal. CKN was a die-hard fan. But he thought he had Odi-eshi (invincibility, untouchable) from Obowo and refused my counsel to get a nurse and a medic whenever Arsenal was playing. That was during Arsenal’s season of one win, three draws, and losses.

After seasons of agitation, my brother, CKN could no longer bear the torture. He threatened to port and finally did, like most politicians do when they lose an election. He then pitched a tent with Manchester United, oblivious of the hard time awaiting the Red Devils. Today, they sit at thirteen since the season began.

Now you understand why, even with Arsenal’s recent demolition of Real Madrid, CKN’s wish, as posted on his Facebook page, is for Real Madrid to overturn the result in a couple of days at the Bernabeu. CKN’s crystal ball deluded him into thinking football ill luck would never interrupt the RED Devils’ season, just like it has done to almighty Manchester City.

Talking about Arsenal, did you watch the curly free kick from Declan Rice, the one hundred and five million pounds midfield signing that made Roberto Carlos, a former Brazilian and Real Madrid offensive-minded left back, marvel? How impressive was the bend and control of his second goal? The two goals were great strides from our midfield maestro, all within 13 minutes.

On Tuesday, April 9th, 2025, Rice wrote his headlines twice in a spectacle during the quarter-final between Arsenal and the 15-time UEFA champions. Rice’s goals were rated as two of the finest free kicks ever at this level; goals that also shocked David Beckham’s. Spanish Mikel Merino scored the third to cap an outstanding performance that stunned pundits.

All these pundits from Cesc Fabregas to Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf, and Daniel Sturridge were speechless. In the words of Rooney, which Jude Billingham of Real Madrid confirmed, it could have been five goals. In summary, they agreed the performance was flawless, outstanding, and a special night that left Rear Madrid shell-shocked

Before the match, one of Arsenal’s greats and legends, Ian Wright, was furious when we drew against Everton and guessed that only a miracle would save us from the star-studded Real Madrid. 

Most riders dream of this kind of miracle, irrespective of the size of their bike or even their gender or status.

Riders’ ego and hubris are responsible for their risk-taking mannerisms and the illusion that they can outrun other road users. The pride and status symbol of owning a power bike, not a mobylete,  Okada, or an electric bike, drives them nuts. In addition, the way they chisel through traffic would astonish even professional magicians.

Before I remind you of the optics, what peculiar infractions are familiar with these riders? They range from illegal occupation of motor vehicle lanes to excessive speeding, red-light running, illegal and manned reverse cycling, and wrong-way riding. Studies reveal that psychological determinants influence the risk-taking behaviour of riders. One of these studies states that the incidence of risk behaviour continuously increases as the weight and power (power bike) of the vehicle increase.

So, again, as reminders, what are the optics on bikes, whether small or powered? For the record, power or electric bikes (e-bikes) present several risk factors, including potential fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries, injuries from accidents due to speed and lack of training, and traffic violations.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States of America, the two most common injuries are fractures and contusions or abrasions. The upper and lower limbs and the head and neck are the most frequently injured body areas. According to the World Health Organisation, the risk factors for driving are speeding, driving under the influence, and distracted driving, which significantly contribute to road crashes and injuries and are a significant public health concern.

I do know for a fact that a handful of riders and drivers use phones while riding or driving. The distraction it causes has led to avoidable crashes, deaths, and injuries. This explains my worry about the distraction caused by the misuse of smartphones.

I am talking about the daily blunders we adults commit all in the name of modernisation and technological advancement. In reality, it is the sheer abuse of modern technology and irresponsible behaviour by some who indulge in showing off their technological acquisitions, forgetting the consequences for other road users.

I do not know if you believe in the school of thought that supports using hands-free technology. Are you aware that our laws prohibit using hands-free or handheld devices with built-in Bluetooth? A friend once jabbed me, saying I should wake up to the reality of the new age and technological improvements, only because I cautioned him against its use.

It is common to hear other offenders argue that they were using hands-free and, as such, are not liable. Others would say, “Sorry, I wasn’t using my mobile phone but was using Google Maps to locate my destination.” This case was celebrated by a female offender who went berserk, calling the Corps all names, including unlettered, for daring to arrest her for using Google Maps, which, as the law says, is a component of the mobile phone.

Some would even argue that they merely checked to see who was calling, while others would say they were holding the phone. Those in this category forget that driving with one hand is an offence because of the potential danger it portends. One person lately asked me if using the phone while waiting at a traffic light was a traffic offence, stressing that, “after all, the vehicle was not moving.”

A study in Germany once investigated one of the primary reasons for the high fatality rate amongst Young Novice Drivers (YNDs); their use of smartphones while driving. It gathered responses from a representative sample of YNDs on their behaviour while driving, using an updated version of the ‘Behaviour of Young Novice Drivers Scale’.

From these responses, the report examined the prevalence of certain driving behaviours described as ‘distracting’ and compared these to the respondents’ use of specific smartphone features. The responses report that music-related activities (e.g., changing music on a smartphone) are most common amongst YNDs. Speaking on the phone is seldom reported, although more males than females indicated engagement in this behaviour.

As I told you last week, several other studies have demonstrated the impact of phone use on driving performance by measuring aspects such as hazard detection ability, reaction times, and eye movements. Findings reveal that regardless of whether a phone is handheld or hands-free, phone-using drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a collision than undistracted drivers, and this increased risk persists for around five minutes after a call has ended. 

Phone-using drivers (again, whether handheld or handsfree) demonstrate poor hazard detection ability – even for hazards that occur directly in front of them – and take significantly longer to react to any hazards they do notice, leading to increased stopping distances. Such research has highlighted that the key issue with phone use is the cognitive distraction it imposes, rather than simply the manual and visual distraction of holding and looking at a phone. 

This is compellingly demonstrated in research showing that hands-free phone-using drivers can look directly at a hazard yet fail to see it (a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness) as their attention is focused on their phone conversation. The findings on the effects of phone use are emphatic: having both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road doesn’t mitigate the distraction that phone-using drivers experience.