A GLASGOW girl is championing the importance of wearing motorbike safety gear after her helmet saved her life.

Mhairi Stewart, from Jordanhill, was thrown from the back of her boyfriend Dean’s motorbike after colliding with another car on Sunday, July 12.

Mhairi, 23, said she was lucky to be alive.

Glasgow Times:

She told us: “I don’t know where I’d be if I wasn’t wearing a helmet, but I don’t think I’d be here.

“I want people to know now how important it is to wear gloves, proper leathers and a helmet, and for other cars to be aware of motorbikes on the road. It can save your life.”

The accident happened on the ring-road to the M8 from Glasgow to Edinburgh after Mhairi and Dean, who are both personal trainers, were driving back from having a meal out in South Queensferry.

Dean, who owns Elysium Gym in Leith, had decided to take his motorbike.

Luckily for Mhairi, Dean’s mother gave her a leather jacket to ride in the night before.

Mhairi added: “Looking back now, I can’t believe my luck that I was given a jacket the night before.

“I don’t know where I’d be without it today.”

Glasgow Times:

Mhairi added: “We were not in the wrong, it was a matter of a car in front not seeing us when they switched lanes.

“It sent us flying into the air, Dean landed on the side of the road and I was sent flying down the middle of the motorway.

“I woke up as I was rolling and tried to grab the ground with my hands to stop.

“All I could think about was ‘I need to stop rolling so I can get to Dean’.

“Eventually, I managed to stop, jumped up and ran to Dean who was about 100 yards away.

“I can’t explain how terrifying those few seconds were not knowing how he was or what happened to him.

“I wasn’t wearing gloves and only had on jeans, so now I know that I’ll never do that again. It was luck that I wasn’t injured more.”

Road Safety Scotland states that motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users.

They make up just 1% of traffic but account for around 13% of fatalities, and certain age groups of motorcyclists are more at risk than others.

Remarkably, Mhairi emerged from the crash with only cuts, bruises and a potentially torn ligament.

Glasgow Times:

Although she says she won’t be back on the bike for a while, Dean, who emerged with hardly a scratch, wants to get back on it to overcome any lasting fears.

“All I can think about now is just how lucky we are to be alive, and how we can’t take anything for granted,” Mhairi added.

“For any motorcycle users it is so important to always wear a good helmet, leathers on both top and bottom half, tell the people you love that you love them every chance you get and don’t take anything for granted.”

Road Safety Scotland’s campaign Live Fast, Die Old has recommendations on motorbike safety.

It says to always wear a helmet, that gloves are essential, thick boots are important and recommends wearing protective outerwear, including reinforced jeans.