Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005.

Y'know... Back when I had my motorcycle (1986-1997), I actually drove my Suzuki GS450L a lot more conservatively than I ever drove a car. I never had it above 75 MPH (I drove my car faster back then), I didn't do that idiotic "weave through traffic at 130 MPH" crap.

But in BALTIMORE, lemme tell ya: the some of the motorcyclists drive like they're in the movie TRON. And I never know whether to swerve out of their way (so they don't impact the back of my car) or to keep in place (for when they make a dangerous 100+ MPH swerve 4" from my car).

Some of the bikers make SUV drivers seem downright courteouis by comparison.

But let me say that it's just a FRACTION of the bikers that behave that way. Unfortunately, they're the ones people notice and remember.

My Suzuki got about 80 MPG. I drove a motorcycle for 11 years because it sure did save a lot of gasoline. It probably wasn't so hot for emmissions, I imagine.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I to am a X/going to be biker again. Ive owned the fast rocket bikes made in my life time. Ive been the guy that slaped your tail light as I went by at 100+ mpg. stabed the brakes and rode the front tire at 60 mph endo. I use to really get a kick out of watching folks throw there cup of coffee at the head liner as I pasted them at 130 mph on a 2-stroke F1 class modded race bike. Im chnging my ways and looking at new Harleys. they even have O2 sensors in the pipes right off the heads. dont ask me what Im going to do with the sensors and the ECU.

As for the drunks... Well there a problem. But the real problem is the sober folks that shouldnt be driving to start with. Not to mention cell phone users and the WSJ paper hangers....

My Suzuki got about 80 MPG. I drove a motorcycle for 11 years because it sure did save a lot of gasoline. It probably wasn't so hot for emmissions, I imagine.[/QUOTE]

 

I've commuted by motorcycle for many years and done some touring. I go faster than I would in a car but more carefully, so maybe that qualifies as more conservative? Only one crash: on a scooter in 1973 (fell in a corner when I mistook spilled gas for water, very slippery!). And I believe riding has made me a better, more alert car driver.

People say you have to be more defensive on a bike but I believe you have to go FAR beyond defensive. You can't just react to what cars do. You have to anticipate what they MIGHT do, decide what YOU will do if they do it, set yourself up in a good position to do that, watch to see if they ARE doing it, and then execute your plan if it will work. Sounds like a lot but after a while it becomes second nature.

Also, I have a mantra I repeat when I'm about to do something silly: "I like to ride a lot, so is risking that for this silliness really worth it?". Sometimes it is, often not.

The problem is that none of this works for hormone-addled, "I'm immortal" youth.

Riding is tremendous fun, surprisingly the only thing that comes close for me is driving an Insight!

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

If you'll notice, the article doesn't mention how many motorcycles were registered that year, of if there was a change in registrations from the year before. If there was a 10% increase in bikes on the road, but a 5% increase in accidents, then the number of accidents per capita went down. If there were the same number of bikes, but they were being ridden more, then the number of accidents per capita went down.
The American Motorcyclists' Association Magazine had a very good article regarding this kind of thing a few months ago. There are legislators willing too ban ALL motorcycles based on this kind of incomplete data.
I have ridden for 12 years, and am 36 years old. I will own a motorcycle as long as I am physically able to ride. I have never ridden without a helmet, and never will.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I've riden 26,000 miles on 2 wheels in the past 13 months. I've never had a problem with other traffic, but then I actively work to stay in places where other people's mistakes won't hurt me.

Explaining the increase in motorcycle deaths is difficult as there is no reliable information on how many bikes are on the road or how far they are riding. It may be as simple as the reporting criteria for deaths has changed, or reporting is more comprehensive. Just look at the various articles on hypermiling and you will understand the falsehoods in the various articles on motorcycling.

Personally, I feel safer on 2 wheels than 4. My options to avoid accidents are greater. This doesn't mean heroic swerves or anything like that. Just simple stuff I can do because I'm narrower. Having a little more acceleration helps sometimes to position myself better, and so is being well trained on braking. Before hypermiling, I paid more attention on two wheels.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

The rising death rate is easily explained by older riders wanting to impress people by riding dressed in black from head-to-toe (the worst thing you can do on a bike), wearing fake beanie helmets, with low-beam headlights, with no training, on bikes too large for them, who have no clue what counter-steering is, and don't have enough sense to use both brakes. Instead, they panic, lock up the rear brake, and slide into trees, guardrails, etc. Ignorance kills more bikers than anything else, and there is an overabundance of it out there.

Bikers are their own worst enemies, although most car/bike collisions are the fault of the car drivers. But dressing all in black like a ninja assassin or cat burglar is the dumbest thing you can do, and is what all the bikers dudes are trying to portray as their testosterone-soaked image.

Harry

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I'm 55. I wear a black armored leather jacket, chaps, a full face helmet, boots and gloves on every ride. Also a yellow vest for visability. I've taken BRC and ERC as well as having completed the Ride Like a Pro IV and V exercises.

Now, if you want to see how this old guy panics in an emergency watch this video I took on a ride of mine last month.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4GFgzzwwo

I personally think most bike accidents are the fault of the rider. But your characterization of riders is grossly inaccurate and doesn't fit very many riders I've met. I personally agree that lack of a knowledge of countersteering is the cause of a large percentage of accidents. But is that the rider's fault if nobody teaches them? No, it's the fault of DMV testing which does little to see if a person is safe on the road.

It's not even clear the death rate is increasing as there are absolutely no reliable statistics showing how many people are riding or how many miles. Registations and licenses have gone way up, but maybe even more are riding without a license. And maybe fewer people have two bikes. There is no way to tell. It's just speulation.

Harry, I dare you to go to www.msgroup.org and make the same post you just made. You will find a group of riders dedicated to safety and I'm sure you will get some interesting responses.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I agree that it can't be know precisely how many miles are driven by motorcycles or any vehicle but these numbers don't look good for motorcyclist even if they are grossly inaccurate.

http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/motorcycle/?table_sort_739024=5

Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Motorcycle = 38.77
Cars = 1.1
Light Trucks = 1.1

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

Simplton solution, ban black leather protection.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I can think of several reasons for an increase in motorcycle fatalities.
1. inexperienced riders heading out on the road with little to no formal training
2. inexperienced riders heading out on the road riding a crotch rocket and riding like they're in a motogt race
3. inexperienced riders riding on a bike too big for their lack of skills
4. inexperienced riders riding without proper protection
5. increased cell phone use while driving-talking and texting while driving
6. selfish, arrogant, egotistical, drivers who think they own the road and ignore the traffic around them
The list could go on and on

If I decided to get a two wheel vehicle I'd probably start with a high powered moped capable of going a little more than 55mph to drive to and from work only. I'd then move up to a roadster starter bike. I'm a laid back kind of driver so I'd never get a crotch rocket and any parent that chooses to buy one for their teenager should also invest in a cemetary plot and a casket for that same teenager.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

If you don't know enough to make yourself visible on a motorcycle, you shouldn't be riding.

How hard is it to choose a white full-face helmet rather than a black one? Or worse yet, a black beanie helmet?

Jeff Dean sums it up better than I can: http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/opinions.htm


Harry

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I didn't bother reading through the entire Jeff Dean site trying to figure out your point. You apparently have an opinion, please articulate.

As it stand you are doing a good job of insulting bikers that wear black leather, good luck taking your case beyond your keyboard.:woot:

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

Again, can we take it easy on this thread too?

I bet we can present our viewpoints somewhat less abrasively.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I saw a guy on a motorcycle today, Father's day, giving his daughter a ride. He was dressed in black from head-to-toe. Low-beam headlight, he was riding along, making no effort to be visible to other motorists.

My opinion? Jeez, do I have to draw a picture? I gave you a link to an excellent article, complete with photographs, by a long-time motorcyclist, with excellent advice on motorcycle safety.

My opinion, if you can't deduce it by now, is that motorcyclists have to put effort into their own safety. As a first step, they have to stop making themselves invisible to traffic by choosing black helmets and black apparel. A study shows that switching to a white helmet reduces a motorcyclist's accident rate by 24 percent.

How am I insulting motorcyclists by offering them valid advice on survival out on the mean streets? Anyone who takes offense is obviously being defensive, and has his own attitude problem.

Look, I don't really care how many bikers get in wrecks; I'm primarily interested in looking out for number one. I've had excellent results by putting effort into riding safely, and I recommend all motorcyclists, especially new ones, do the same.

Study the Dean web page. The vocabulary isn't that tough, and it isn't a long read.

Riding motorcycles on public roads is dangerous, but can be made safer with effort. I look around, and I see that the vast majority of bikers are not putting in that effort.

My advice is aimed at new bikers, those who choose to ride to save gas, and for other reasons.

Ride safe.

Harry

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

Worthywads, if you don't ride a motorcycle, what are you doing in this thread?

Harry

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

My point is even if you are correct in it being so easily explained by the more than half dozen different things listed above besides wearing black you aren't going to win any converters by telling someone to there face you think they are trying to be a ninja assassin or cat burglar or testosterone soaked. Worst and dumbest are very subjective and can be considered insulting too.

By your logic no one here that doesn't own an SUV can comment in SUVs related threads. My abrasive comments to you are relevent to your abrasive approach, which doesn't have anything to do with whether I ride or not.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I'll admit to being more than a little amused by the bikers dressed like cat burglar or ninja assassin, but please let this discussion take a higher road and be less gritty if you know what I mean.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

Sorry, I see my approach to letting Earthling know that others might find his comments unfriendly hasn't worked well. Must stick to the facts.

 

Re: Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 200

I was saying Earthing could be less abrasive in a diplomatic way, but worthwads - please also play nice.