Motorcyclist fatalities have more than doubled in 10 years

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Blackjack200
It's a damn shame it's so dangerous. I would love to get a bike, but I'll never ride one on public roads. As an aside, I tend to be a very irritable driver at times, but I change my attitude completely when there is a motorcycle nearby - I've found most bikes are courteous drivers, but even if the guy is being a dick, I let it go b/c it's just not worth it to risk killing someone.

Yet the statistics say that most motorcycle crashes are the cycle rider's fault.

You always hear the Harley riders say "loud pipes save lives", but I think that's a bunch of BS.
There's no way you can even come close to proving that statement, but you can prove this, from the link a couple of posts above:

In nearly three-fourths of the two-vehicle motorcycle crashes involving passenger vehicles,
the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle.

? In 55 percent of the head-on two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles and passenger
vehicles, the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle and in 68
percent of the rear-end crashes the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking
vehicle.

Among the front-to-side crashes, 36 percent of the crashes were one vehicle colliding
with the other at right angles. Of these crashes (front-to-side at right angles), in 78
percent of the crashes the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle.

Sad fact of the matter is, people who ride in general are more reckless than people who drive.
Common sense would tell you that without looking at any statistics.
So really, it's not the cars that bikers need to be looking out for....it's that person they see in the mirror.

I've heard of quite a few front to side crashes happening with motorcyclists this year in my area. Sadly they have occurred when a car makes an illegal left turn in front of a motorcycle when they should not. This makes the motorcyclist the striking vehicle, but it does not make them at fault.

Yup, I personally know someone who was riding a motorcycle but ended up "striking" a lady in a van that cut her off and pulled a left turn because she didnt "see" her. She had spinal injuries and surgery and at no fault of her own.

Loud pipes do save lives. One of the first things you learn in drivers education is to pay special attention if you hear a motorcycle exhaust because it is so easy to miss them thanks to the fact that they are a different size and shape of object than you are accustomed to look out for, some drivers don't even notice motorcycles until they've run one down.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Simple really.

Too many people ride without helmets or ride with "fake" helmets.

Too many people don't follow All The Gear All The Time (I'm probably a bigot in this area - I do but then again its par for the course when you own a BMW motorcycle - as in - its expected)

Too many people ride like idiots

 

[vi edit]

I blame global warming.

More heat = longer riding seasons = more miles per year bikers ride = more chances of death.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Blackjack200
It's a damn shame it's so dangerous. I would love to get a bike, but I'll never ride one on public roads. As an aside, I tend to be a very irritable driver at times, but I change my attitude completely when there is a motorcycle nearby - I've found most bikes are courteous drivers, but even if the guy is being a dick, I let it go b/c it's just not worth it to risk killing someone.

Yet the statistics say that most motorcycle crashes are the cycle rider's fault.

You always hear the Harley riders say "loud pipes save lives", but I think that's a bunch of BS.
There's no way you can even come close to proving that statement, but you can prove this, from the link a couple of posts above:

In nearly three-fourths of the two-vehicle motorcycle crashes involving passenger vehicles,
the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle.

? In 55 percent of the head-on two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles and passenger
vehicles, the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle and in 68
percent of the rear-end crashes the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking
vehicle.

Among the front-to-side crashes, 36 percent of the crashes were one vehicle colliding
with the other at right angles. Of these crashes (front-to-side at right angles), in 78
percent of the crashes the role of the motorcycle was recorded as the striking vehicle.

Sad fact of the matter is, people who ride in general are more reckless than people who drive.
Common sense would tell you that without looking at any statistics.
So really, it's not the cars that bikers need to be looking out for....it's that person they see in the mirror.

I've heard of quite a few front to side crashes happening with motorcyclists this year in my area. Sadly they have occurred when a car makes an illegal left turn in front of a motorcycle when they should not. This makes the motorcyclist the striking vehicle, but it does not make them at fault.

I almost had this happen to me about 2 weeks ago. Fortunately the guy saw me just as he started to go and he stopped. I don't know if I would have been able to avoid him had he gone ahead and pulled in front of me...luckily I didn't need to find out.

 

[mooncancook]

One of the problem I see all the time is that most motorcyclist I see think that they are entitled to use the lane divider as a third lane. They squeeze between cars in slow traffic. It looks quite dangerous to me.

 

[Estrella]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Estrella
Why not? Unless they quit in time, those who ride bikes will evnetually crash and burn. Why waste perfectly good organs? Me saying it is one thing, it getting passed as legislation is another:laugh:

Just because the news doesn't report all those people who have been riding for decades without a wreck doesn't mean they aren't out there. If you used accident statistics for riced-out Honda Civics and generalized to all vehicles, you might think cars are insanely dangerous. Heck, you could just as easily claim that all car drivers will eventually crash and die...

I commute on my motorcycle. I don't take stupid risks, I watch my back, and guess what? I don't have any trouble. Is it more dangerous than driving? Sure. But your personal risk factor goes way down if you're not an idiot.

Interestingly, the risk involved in flying a small plane is about the same as riding a motorcycle. Given the respective demographics, I'd argue that a motorcycle is less likely to kill you than a plane, and the difference is made up by the greater proportion of risk-takers on bikes.

I'm not even really bearing the news in mind, what I have in mind is experience. Yes, there are many responsible bike riders out there. But really, your odds are better in a car, helmet or not.

I had a friend tell me a story about how he accidentally cut a biker off that was coming behind them. He had checked his mirrors and had done everything else a responsible person would do when switching lanes but, he didn't see the biker. Both were obeying the law however, something horrendous still almost happened, just because you guys are hard to see at times.

BTW, I would never want to fly a small plane either for safety reasons also.

You must admit though, responsible or not, you guys have the short end of the safety stick if something happens.

And yes, I could claim that all car drivers on a long enough time scale will eventually crash and die. However, motorcyclists are quite a bit more likely as a statistic. Just the fact that you drive a motorcycle makes you more of a risk taker than an equivalent person in a car.

 

[Estrella]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: Estrella

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Estrella
I think from now on, all motorcyclists should be mandated to be organ donors. Come on people we have a shortage and there is a supply surplus!

The communists are calling. They want you back.

Why not? Unless they quit in time, those who ride bikes will evnetually crash and burn. Why waste perfectly good organs? Me saying it is one thing, it getting passed as legislation is another:laugh:

perfect example of why i say what i sayatot bike nlaw story

Everyone dies eventually, why not make everyone a mandatory donor?

Why not? Do you have a problem with other people living?

I just think it is a practical use for someone who is more of a risk taker after they have left this place. From a governmental standpoint, the government would use this as a way to force people into statistically safer transportation. The country as a whole would benefit more from you being alive, healthy, and working then you being dead.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: EstrellaBTW, I would never want to fly a small plane either for safety reasons also.

You drive a motorcycle makes you more of a risk taker than an equivalent person in a car.

First, a small plane is safer than a car for any long distance travel.

Second, your more at risk in a car than a bus, so whats your point again?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Jahee
Stupidity and the number of inattentive drivers has doubled in 10 years!

The real estate boom and everyone taking out equity lines to buy bikes, plasmas, boats and jetskis have contributed.

I have known two people that got 1000+ CC superbikes for their first and within a month were in the ER.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
Simple really.

Too many people ride without helmets or ride with "fake" helmets.

Too many people don't follow All The Gear All The Time (I'm probably a bigot in this area - I do but then again its par for the course when you own a BMW motorcycle - as in - its expected)

Too many people ride like idiots

Even the best helmet will really only protect you up to a point. If you hit a guardrail at 60mph you are dead or your neck is broken.

While the posters here might be the exception I think a lot of people don't really give riders the space they need or constantly engage in rapid lane changes with no signal and without checking their blind spot.

This happens to most of us all the time I would suspect when we are driving cars and cars are a lot easier to see than a motorcycle.