OT - Surprising Story on Motorcycle Deaths

[Baltobuell]

 Nobody wants to die, but nobody getting out alive either. At least they were having fun when their time came.
 A tiered system to protect the unaware seems reasonable and right. But in principle, I prefer control over my own life and don't want anybody making decisions for me. The whole save me from myself theory stinks since it paves the way for dependency on government/lawyers to make peoples decisions and shirk off personal responsibility. It's not against the law to talk on my cell phone and drive so it must be safe, RIGHT!
 I ware a helmet and my boy rides an old 650 twin till he shows the maturaty for something better. It may be expensive to let eveybody make their own choices, but what's it going to cost when you're not allowed to.

[Eric Kelcher]

1fast I tried looking for the stats back when Texas went with a no helmet law it was rather interesting. What was found about medical expenses was that those without helmets had LOWER medical expenses than those with. Due to the fact the ones without helmets simply died so care ended there, those with helmets survived and were in need of more care ($$$) as head was protected and the broken arm/leg, the internal injuries all had to be treated.

[Dawn]

Uhhh....  Eric...

What's up with "Eric LOSER Kelcher"

Dawn   ???

[Eric Kelcher]

What you talking about?  ;)

Seems a certain wannabe racer decided to have some fun today. :D I guess she is still gloating over the MotogpII race win

[Dawn]

What you talking about?  ;)

Seems a certain wannabe racer decided to have some fun today. :D I guess she is still gloating over the MotogpII race win

Ohhh.....

I think it's time to change your password.

Dawn   ;)

[Eric Kelcher]

and hers  ::)

[Burt Munro]

Information from Wisconsin.....

Here's an article from channel 3000 in Wisconsin:

http://www.channel3000.com/news/2355347/detail.html

As of July '03 motorcycle deaths in the state had doubled from last year.  Nearly half of the deaths involved Harleys.  More than half of the deaths involved riders over age 35.

And an article from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in July that focuses on the aging of riders, alcohol and deer impacts:
 
http://www.racemotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=ccs1;action=modify;message=18;thread=1064897730

Rick

[Mongo]

Couple of things to consider - saving people form themselves could easily extend from helmet laws to outlawing riding motorcycles altogether to outlawing dangerous sports like roadracing.  

Personally - I don't care.  I chose my safety equipment based on what I feel comfortable in.  I do NOT want anyone else deciding that for me, nor would I impose my opinion on you.

On the state/deaths stuff.  Keep in mind that there are a lot more large cities in IL as well adding to the possibilty of more car/bike wrecks vs/ single bike incidents, and hitting or getting hit by a car is bad no matter what your equipment.  I do agree though that there are more deaths in no law states.  But is that really a bad thing?  I don't mind motorcyclists dying any more than any other deaths.  It's gonna happen sooner or later and if you're dumb enough to put yourself in a situation where you get killed when wearing a helmet would save you - no big loss.

[Baltobuell]

FWIW, I wish Harley would, from the factory, put real brakes on baggers. Aftermarket upgrade money aside, it would would help keep their potential repeat customers alive. (Sorry P*)

[Super Dave]

Helmets are good, we know that.  Forcing people to do it?  Don't know.

Driving a car and riding a motorcycle are not rights, they are privelages that are extended to people that meet the criteria.  So, you could force people to do what is necessary to protect themselves, but I really don't want to see it.

Tiered licensing?  In the US?  Won't happen.  First, there is no way the manufacturers will support it.  Motorcycles are not as necessary in the US as they are in Europe.  Europe is a socialist economy with unbelieveable fuel costs.  The cities have been around for thousands of years.  Roads and houses are small, space is not available.  It only makes sense because of fuel costs, storage, and traffic reasons to have motorcycles and scooters.  Grandma could have an Aprilia scooter!

In the US, their is a vast expanse of space.  Long distances to travel.  The manufacturers need to sell bikes, and few of them have a decent selection of entry level bikes.  

As for accidents...

The statistics really don't show if the motorcyclists are just being ran over by stupid cage drivers.  This is a problem.  Can be an issue of the chicken or the egg.  Deer fall into the same category.  Not a fault of the motorcyclist, necessarily, but they are the statistic.

Training?  How about motorcycle training?  (From a teacher, so to speak...LOL!)  Can be a big issue in all these older cruiser riders returning.  To generalize based on what I've seen, I can't believe some of the poor decisions that I see lots of newer Harley riders do around me.  They ride like they are in a car, they use the rear brake, they "walk" their bike to a stop, etc.  Women riders that can't seem to control their big dresser at a stop sign.  This isn't meant to categorize cruiser, Harley, or women, but I do notice a lot of unbelieveibly poor execution by motorcyclists in those categories around me.  Seems to go with the age group and the death rate.

[OlDirtyBrian]

I vote for teired systems. I started out on an R1 at 18 years old and am somehow still alive. It certainly wasnt from lack of trying. This sort of thing shouldnt be allowed to happen.

[Lowe119]

From what I see, the death rate is still at 100%. No one has been able to live forever. I don't want the government telling me to wear a helmet or seatbelt, not smoke or drink, wear a condom, or stop me from doing anything that may increase the likelyhood of just me getting hurt.
I can see making us wear eyewear or being sober, since that could affect someone else, but let us take our own chances. That is what our country was founded on.

More training may be a good thing. I got my permit by reading the manual in line at the DMV. Then I jumped on my new 600 and had some fun practicing wheelies and seeing how far down I could get the bike. Although most of my near-accidents came from women in SUVs (sorry) who weren't paying attention. So maybe we should have a tier system for SUVs also. Otherwise you stay in your small/manueverable car.