Yes. The situation is different for different people. When I rode my bicycle many years ago, me and my friends were road fiends. We were reckless youth who never thought twice about safety (some of us deliberately removed our brakes and slowed down using out thick rubber slippers, daring each other with stunts, etc.) - that's the reason I don't allow my kids on the roads these days - they may behave like I did - and it is a lot more dangerous now. I know we can never completely eradicate danger on the streets, but lessening the risk seems like a rational reaction to reduce risk. I believe that most road users are aware of the dangers, and nobody wants to be involved in a collsion, and for cyclist and motorcyclists, the danger is always greater. I agree that most pillion riders get carried aways safely, but when an accident happens (as in this case), look at the results.
Cheers!
When we are young, life is carefree & reckless, I have rode up & down a steep incline slope, where I used to live...and sped down the incline slope of a road that have a 20 degree turn at the bottom of the slope & leads to a blind corner. I have done that many times, for the thrill, the exhilaration of speed & never care if vehicles are coming round that bend. We were taught safety on the roads, especially riding bicycle.
I learn my lesson, around that age of riding & up & that slope, had an accident not with that slope, but racing with the bicycle with my peers through some narrow road & met with an accident with a slow moving car. Had the car being faster, I would not be here telling this tale, the cycle was total, I miraculously was unhurt. The car from was dented, I blamed the driver a woman, who paid for the cycle ha ha ha, even though i was the culprit, no camera back then.
What I am saying is, we all know & taught to be safe, we need to be careful & we hope that, we do not need a painful & dangerous lesson to be taught to learn, like me.
We need to remind ourselves wether we are driving or riding or walking, to be careful...we now live in a very hurried world & getting more congested each day.