EXCLUSIVE: Wear proper helmet & safety gear - 'Sinbad' Fonseca
But there is also the side that would suggest that one life lost is too many when considering the circumstances, especially when it is evaluated that a certain known procedure had not been followed. It is also said that it is not the instrument that is to be blamed but rather the non-adherent user of that instrument.
It has been debates of this nature that have been flooding the shores of the Virgin Islands (VI) as of recent following two road fatalities on Tortola in a time span of less than one month.
But a number of things have been coming out negatively and positively as a result of this and one thing that would be remiss of this news site, is if we fail to do our civic duty in highlighting how the issue can be addressed.
The call had been dominating at all levels for communities to return to the days when neighbours looked out for each other.
This news site was privileged to have sat with a son of the soil who sought us out to share some vital information that, when taken into consideration, can see a reduction of fatalities from scooter accidents.
The ‘Dare Devil’ Speaks - Sinbad
Mr. Lawrence Anderson Fonseca aka Sinbad is a certified professional drag racer who considers himself a ‘dare devil’ and rightfully so. He has admitted that for the persons who know him, they would attest to the fact that during his more youthful days he was considered a “nuisance to society” when it comes to biking and a “bad boy” as at that stage of his life it was a major challenge to get him to do certain things or listen to certain people.
“So often I heard them saying that it was because of me that they had banned big bikes but that’s not true,” he told Virgin Islands News Online. Under his belt, he holds several international records in drag racing and big bikes, some unbroken to date.
He said that the main reason for him coming forward to share his knowledge is the fact that many of his former school mates, friends, and persons in his community have children who are riding bikes and are not doing the right things to safeguard their lives.
“I feel hurt, really hurt to see when parents have to suffer like this when their kids fall into these predicaments because their kid not riding with safety gears and stuff,” he noted.
He admits to seeing bikers wearing helmets but never a decent one. “None of them even wear shades to protect their eyes so they riding with their heads turned left and then one minute turn right, repeatedly to maintain their vision and that is super dangerous.”
It is advised that in riding a motor cycle it is necessary that one keeps their eyes fixed to the road at all times, hence the importance of shades. “The minute you turn one second that can be the cause of your life.”
‘Sinbad’ said that he has never failed society or himself in offering this and other advice to motor cyclists whenever he catches up with them in any way. “When I do meet up with them in gas stations and I talk to them they just smile or laugh and say ok because they know I am a dare devil too so hearing it from me, they don’t really care to hear it but experience teaches wisdom.”
The quality helmet that is universally proven to be the safest are those made of fibre glass. Mr. Fonseca said that while this type of helmet is more expensive, “Spending a thirty dollar for a cheap helmet does not compensate for your life,” he advised.
He said that what lawmakers need to consider is the permissible types of helmet and safety gears as opposed to the size of bikes that are allowed on the streets. “Drag racing and biking are universal sports and can add greatly to the tourism sector of the territory,” he opined. He noted that while not recognized for his achievements in this field in his own land, he is highly respected in the sport internationally.
Over the years, as evident in some world leading magazines, he had been featured as a master in bikes, art and drag racing.
In his exclusive interview with this news site, there was evidence of a man speaking from his heart – something he said he was doing as he feels responsible as a member of society to share some of his knowledge that if heeded, can save lives and prevent tears from falling.
“Wear your Snell approved helmet at all times when riding a motorcycle”
The use of proper helmets at all times when riding is the number one sure way of reducing road fatalities when it comes to biking, but equally as important, is the use of protective eye covering.
“What’s going on now with the small bikes, killing people we never even had that when we were using big bikes over here on Tortola, we never had those kind of fatalities, not that amount either and the little bikes are very dangerous in a lot of ways,” said Mr. Fonseca.
He explained that the small motor cycles that are permissible by law to be used in the VI are extremely dangerous given a number of glaring factors that exists here; “they do not brake as fast as they should, wheels are very small, the holes in the roads eat the wheels up, it is very dangerous.” He added that scooter bikes are not being used in the VI for what they were designed.
He said that this is a serious factor that government needs to look at, that even worse than big bikes, the small ones have even greater possibilities of causing road fatalities.
I am willing to share my knowledge even with the Police – Sinbad
The Virgin Islander, who has a passion for his community, said that he has observed that even at the level of traffic cops, there is a dire need for training in the use of motorcycles an observation that has led him to offer his services voluntarily to assist in training.
This, he said, has fallen on deaf ears but said that if sought, he is still willing to give his bit in the interest of a safe society. While he said that he has not taken the offer to the level of the Commissioner of Police (COP), it had gone high enough to have reached his ears indirectly.
He has committed to also volunteering to speak to young people, especially those with a flair for motorcycles. He said that he also prays for the day that Government sees it fit to lift the ban on big bikes and makes provisions for drag racing to be practiced as a sport. “Like I said, it’s not the bike that is the problem it’s the users not adhering to the guiding principles when it comes to riding any bike. Almost every week you hear of a motorcycle accident and it’s not big bikes it’s the same scooters that they allow but more importantly, is the need to use Snell approved helmets.”
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61 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: Wear proper helmet & safety gear - 'Sinbad' Fonseca”
I agree that they need to be protected in some way but they will see this as a right to be riding carelessly in and out of traffic, overtaking and other stupid things.
It and frighten to you driving a vehicle with kids on board and out of no where a bike sees the need to overtake not just one but sometimes two or three other vehicles on a corner, between cars or on-coming traffic.
Therefore they need to increase the age limit for them to ride a bike and let more responsible rider use it. At the end of the day with they get in an accident their parents will be the ones held responsible for repairing the damage because they are minors.
Does anyone on here remember or realize that S... was the reason why big bikes were banned on Tortola from long ago.
Nice article as well.
Hopefull he has learned, all i would say i when riding in a group always look for your own self,
never go through on what someone clear with.
Now the task lies with you
Help u fit these young youths n the right shoe
''Please wear good helmets, your head is worth more than a few hundred dollars.''
If your desk top computer PC goes bad your monitor is no use to you either, so the same as your BRAIN bad the rest of your body wont be any use to you either.