Comments on: Update: Motorcycle Crash Study in Jeopardy http://motorcyclecolorado.com/blog/update-motorcycle-crash-study-in-jeopardy/ Mon, 14 May 2012 21:57:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Maxx http://motorcyclecolorado.com/blog/update-motorcycle-crash-study-in-jeopardy/comment-page-1/#comment-825 Maxx Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:22:45 +0000 http://motorcyclecolorado.com/blog/?p=510#comment-825 I'm in the motorcycle biz, so I enter the word "Motorcycle" in a search engine two or three times a week and go to "News" and I see that awful count of deaths and injury news stories. I see all the "cager did it" ones and agree they are about half and I see the single-vehicle, often unexplained, rider lost control ones. The reason I want research is to find out about those accidents and their causes. From 44 years of riding experience I know there a a few causes we don't discuss; TIRE FAILURES, i firmly believe that there are 100s of single bike crashes caused by rapid loss of air pressure. Lack of post accident investigation is why we will never know EQUIPMENT FAILURE, Especially Owner-modified bikes; because most states have no safety inspections of bikes that are at all meaningful I think there are lots of dumb mistakes made that lead to accidents. Like speed wobbles from poor alinement, frame and swing arm failures from welds and bolt-up dubious contraptions and floor boards so big and low they lift the rear-wheel off the ground. I actually SAW that crash from less that 30 yards ahead when a big cruiser went down on a curve in front of me. SUICIDES, I know for positive of 3 single bike deaths that were suicides but not listed as such on the death certificates. I have seen a couple of news stories from Kentucky and California of soldiers running sport bikes into objects a high speeds with no apparent cause. Suicide by vehicle is uncounted for the most part but I know is a very real occurrence. Plenty of riders loose their lives over being under the influence of various intoxicants and from poor skills and riding beyond ability and that's a hugh problem. But we know about that, what about the unknown causes? I’m in the motorcycle biz, so I enter the word “Motorcycle” in a search engine two or three times a week and go to “News” and I see that awful count of deaths and injury news stories. I see all the “cager did it” ones and agree they are about half and I see the single-vehicle, often unexplained, rider lost control ones.
The reason I want research is to find out about those accidents and their causes.
From 44 years of riding experience I know there a a few causes we don’t discuss;

TIRE FAILURES, i firmly believe that there are 100s of single bike crashes caused by rapid loss of air pressure. Lack of post accident investigation is why we will never know

EQUIPMENT FAILURE, Especially Owner-modified bikes; because most states have no safety inspections of bikes that are at all meaningful I think there are lots of dumb mistakes made that lead to accidents. Like speed wobbles from poor alinement, frame and swing arm failures from welds and bolt-up dubious contraptions and floor boards so big and low they lift the rear-wheel off the ground. I actually SAW that crash from less that 30 yards ahead when a big cruiser went down on a curve in front of me.

SUICIDES, I know for positive of 3 single bike deaths that were suicides but not listed as such on the death certificates. I have seen a couple of news stories from Kentucky and California of soldiers running sport bikes into objects a high speeds with no apparent cause. Suicide by vehicle is uncounted for the most part but I know is a very real occurrence.

Plenty of riders loose their lives over being under the influence of various intoxicants and from poor skills and riding beyond ability and that’s a hugh problem. But we know about that, what about the unknown causes?

]]> By: fasthair http://motorcyclecolorado.com/blog/update-motorcycle-crash-study-in-jeopardy/comment-page-1/#comment-823 fasthair Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:23:56 +0000 http://motorcyclecolorado.com/blog/?p=510#comment-823 Mr. Ken: This was a depressing read. I did a little score keeping here with just what you have reported. It adds up like this. Rider fault, 8 killed, 3 hurt. Driver fault, 9 killed, 4 hurt. It is some what clear that the riders used possibly less then better judgment. And whether they were wearing gear or not is has not been reported but also does not play in to the final results as you post them. It is also VERY clear that the rider more or less did nothing wrong other then being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Over half of these death and injuries could have been prevented IF the driver had been more aware of the rider. With just the 17 cases you presented the death and injury total could have been reduced by over 50% if the drives would have "seen" the rider. Can you imagine how many lives a year could be saved if we could just get the drives to pay more attention? The other 50%? Well, you can't fix stupid. Now what I want to know is what or if any charges are filed any of these cases? Along that line, who gets the "short of the stick" if you will more often, the rider or driver? The reason for that last comment is there is clearly (in my eye) a double standard at play when it comes to riders verve drivers in crashes. I've had rider friends spend time in jail for hurting (not killing) someone while riding. I've also lost distant family in a bike crash where the driver was at fault but not a single charge, or ticket for that matter, was filed. The problem with finding out the "truth" to those questions is the sources from which they come. This is why it is so vital that this new study take place and get underway sooner rather then later. Like Mr. Cobb reported, we may not like the answers that the report brings to light. But once they are brought to light all of us as riders can work towards changing the things we can change. fasthair Mr. Ken: This was a depressing read. I did a little score keeping here with just what you have reported. It adds up like this. Rider fault, 8 killed, 3 hurt. Driver fault, 9 killed, 4 hurt.

It is some what clear that the riders used possibly less then better judgment. And whether they were wearing gear or not is has not been reported but also does not play in to the final results as you post them.

It is also VERY clear that the rider more or less did nothing wrong other then being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Over half of these death and injuries could have been prevented IF the driver had been more aware of the rider.

With just the 17 cases you presented the death and injury total could have been reduced by over 50% if the drives would have “seen” the rider. Can you imagine how many lives a year could be saved if we could just get the drives to pay more attention? The other 50%? Well, you can’t fix stupid.

Now what I want to know is what or if any charges are filed any of these cases? Along that line, who gets the “short of the stick” if you will more often, the rider or driver?

The reason for that last comment is there is clearly (in my eye) a double standard at play when it comes to riders verve drivers in crashes. I’ve had rider friends spend time in jail for hurting (not killing) someone while riding. I’ve also lost distant family in a bike crash where the driver was at fault but not a single charge, or ticket for that matter, was filed.

The problem with finding out the “truth” to those questions is the sources from which they come. This is why it is so vital that this new study take place and get underway sooner rather then later. Like Mr. Cobb reported, we may not like the answers that the report brings to light. But once they are brought to light all of us as riders can work towards changing the things we can change.

fasthair

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