OT - Surprising Story on Motorcycle Deaths

[Burt Munro]

Below is a link to an article from last Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch on the rise of fatal motorcycle accidents.

I posted it here because I was very surprised at some of the conclusions they came to.  Mainly, that the greatest number of deaths being reported is in the over 40 age group.  This they attribute to the growing number of over 40 riders in the last 10 years.

I would have believed, based on the number of out of control squids I see on the road, that the greatest number of deaths would come from the 18-25 age group.

Although they only quote statistics from Missouri and Illinois, I would imagine that the information would be consistant across the country.  

Anybody have a different take on this?

Rick

Link....

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/F881308DF2B9C0A286256DAE007D2751?OpenDocument&Headline=Middle-aged+riders+are+fueling+rise+in+motorcycle+deaths,+experts+say&highlight=2%2Cmotorcycles

[motard11]

 I know Ill. has no helmet laws...I wonder how that affects the survay...Helmets save lives.   I live in Fl. and we need our helmet law back!!! I believe the law needs to save us from our selfs some times...Hows this sound?  In florida you must wear a seatbelt in your car or get a ticket...but you dont have to wear a helmet on your motocycle..how stupid is that >:(

[Burt Munro]

2002 Missouri had 56 deaths - 2001 Illinois had 140.
Missouri has a helmet law, Illinois doesn't.
 
Overall the population of Illinois is about double that of Missouri.  However, the riding season for many riders may tend to be a little longer for much of Missouri than the heaviest populated areas of Illinois.  

It would be interesting to see statistics on the number of deaths per registered motorcycle in states with helmet laws versus those without.

Rick

[Burt Munro]

The other thing that needs to be evaluated is going to a progressive licensing system like most of Europe has.  

The idea of somebody with no experience being able to plop down $7000 or $8000 for their first bike and then walk out the door with a new GSXR-600 or R6  or 600RR capable of doing over 150 mph is ridiculous.

But, if we had a system that said you couldn't ride anything bigger that a 250 for the first year, how many new riders would put up with the hassle required to make the steps necessary to progress thru to unlimited riding?  Even though this obviously would improve safety for new riders, would this hurt the overall sales of bikes over time?

Rick

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

The other thing that needs to be evaluated is going to a progressive licensing system like most of Europe has.  

The idea of somebody with no experience being able to plop down $7000 or $8000 for their first bike and then walk out the door with a new GSXR-600 or R6  or 600RR capable of doing over 150 mph is ridiculous.

But, if we had a system that said you couldn't ride anything bigger that a 250 for the first year, how many new riders would put up with the hassle required to make the steps necessary to progress thru to unlimited riding?  Even though this obviously would improve safety for new riders, would this hurt the overall sales of bikes over time?

Rick

Would be nice to see tiered licensing.

Instead of a 2 level, make it a 3 level.

100-500 for 18 months (12 months with an approved course)
test for next level which would be 501-800 for 12 months
much harder test then the 801+ level.

Granted they could make displacement limits by configuration (1000cc twins or 800cc 4's, etc, etc)

But then insurance companies SHOULD be required to only go by driving record and cc's. No more blacklisting. If they insure cars then they have to insure bikes so they just wont insure them.

[MadXX]

why not just horsepower limits then?  that would take care of a lot of these issues.  say.. 50 horsepower?  thats all you really need anyway.  :P

If we tier motorcycle licencing the next step to a safe society is to just get rid of the high horsepower performance bikes.  Its not like the unhelmeted harley masses which make up a lot of the motorcyclists in the country would be bothered by this.

If these idiots want to kill themselves then let them.  I feel the same for seatbelts, helmets, guns, cigeretts, et all.  When we try to protect morons from their own stupidity they will just find some other way to kill themselves.  The only thing we accomplish is screwing up the world for everyone else.

[CCSRacer114]

Sportbike riders tend to wear helmets even in "no helmet" states like Florida... cruiser riders tend to wear a bandana.  Here in Palm Beach, Florida I've seen a rider crash (cruiser, no helmet, over 50) at 5 mph, crack his head on the pavement and die.  No excuse for it, but his own choice.

I've seen riders (mostly over 40 on cruisers) who couldn't make a turn without crossing three lanes of traffic.  Do those riders even HAVE at motorcycle license?  Probably not.

And of course, the news doesn't tell us if the rider was licensed, did the rider attend an MSF Rider Course, how many years was the rider riding.

I don't ride on the street (too dangerous), and while I'm saddened by rider deaths (like the one I've listed above), I have no sympathy for idiots who don't take the time to wear proper safety equipment.

R/Rob
CCS Amateur #114
Sponsors: Dade Behring (NASDAQ: DADE), Rolane Diagnostics, Prieto Racing, Pirelli, Vortex, GMD Computrack

[MadXX]

I have had no problem riding on the street though I do not live in a major metropolis.  (I am in milwaukee)  All you need to do is pay attention to what is going on around you and wear the right gear.

Now of these problems how many involve alcohol?  I bet a good portion do.

also, why are we requiring new car drivers to go to school for driving but not new motorcycle riders?  

also, where is the education on the need for wearing proper gear?  I have not seen any.  Go to a local shop and buy a cbgsyzxrr sportbike or a new cruiser.  How many shops actually tell you why you should buy gear?  now how many toss you the keys and warn you not to burn your legs when you wear shorts?

The motorcycle industry sucks for safety education.  If the unwashed masses dont get the info how can they be expected to do the right thing?

Now those who igonre the info deserve whatever they get.

[TomC]

I think it's fairly simple.  New riders have accidents.  The majority of new riders are over 40.  Though I don't have the statistics, I'd bet that more 1st year riders under 25 are killed than 1st year riders over 40.

Tom
LRRS AM139

[EX#996]

Every time a person gets killed on the road, my heart just sinks...    :'(  :'(  

Of the motorcycle deaths in north east Wisconsin, most were:
  1)  Mature riders 35-60
  2)  Riding cruisers
  3)  No helmet
  4)  Either were driving under the influence or hit a deer.

We lost a lot of people this year.  Only one of the people killed were riding a sportbike (once again, no helmet).

Dawn  

[MightyDuc Racing]

I am a firm believer that there should be NO helmet law.  This is a free country and it's your head.  I also disagree with the seatbelt law.  However, I always wear a helmet, and always wear a seatbelt.  But that's my choice.  I have not looked up the official stats for around here, but I know the last five or six deaths I've read about here locally involved Harleys and alcohol and no helmet.  Exception is one where a kid ran from the cops, hit the back of a BMW, and then both cop cars ran over him.  By the way, I have pretty much quit riding on the street too...too many careless drivers out there that don't care about us. :(

[1fastmofo]

It's sad to see riders die. I'm a firm believer in helmet laws. Yeah, it's a free country, but sometimes people need to be saved from themselves. Whenever someone dies, it's not just a tragedy. Believe or not, it's also expensive.

I'm not putting a price on anyone's life, but insurance rates, taxes, etc are affected by traffic accidents. So if someone dies on the road, for whatever reason, it affects us all. That's why the laws are in place. So stay safe out there guys.

Ray

PS: I hope this doesn't make me seem insensitive or like I'm trivializing peoples' accidents. Just throwing in my two cents.  ;)