Why Are All These Bikers Dying?

I am struck by the number of bikers being killed. If you search the web, as I do, for motorcycle-related news items, the reports of biker deaths are endless.

Jason on his HarleyOn most days there are several. Of course, today, when I planned to copy in the headlines here to make my point, there are none. Today is not a typical day.

I try not to take it out of proportion. If you did a similar search for automobile-related stories I’m sure you would be buried in accident reports. And being more conscious of these fatalities does not make me feel more at risk, as it might some people. If anything, I feel perhaps less at risk because my awareness keeps me vigilant.

Nevertheless, the daily barrage can’t help but make me think. Why are these people dying? What mistakes are they making? What mistakes are other motorists making? How can these deaths be prevented? What can I learn from this?

I’m not the only one asking these questions. A new motorcycle accident study began recently that promises to update and expand on the understanding derived from the Hurt study of 30 years ago.

In a recent issue of American Motorcyclist magazine there were a couple letters from readers arguing that another study was a waste because thanks to the Hurt study we already know the reasons for the crashes. The AMA responded saying “. . . the traffic environment has changed dramatically in the 30 years since the data were collected . . . a new study of U.S. motorcycle crashes can have far-reaching effects on how we teach motorcyclists and drivers, and shed new light on exactly how to reduce the number of crashes.”

But it will be several years before this new study yields its wisdom, so in the meantime we ought to at least make use of what we know already. And that includes these three points:

  • Untrained riders have more accidents
  • New, inexperienced riders have more accidents
  • Riders who have been drinking have more accidents

Now, there’s only one remedy for being a new rider, and that’s to get out there and ride and gain experience. The other two are simple–get some training and don’t mix booze and bikes.

I’m no pollyanna, I know people will have a beer at a stop on the ride. I’ve done that myself. But don’t have four. We all need to remember that “Live to ride, ride to live” presupposes one crucial point: You’ve got to stay alive or you can’t do either.

Biker Quote for Today

Don’t argue with an 18-wheeler.

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5 Responses to “Why Are All These Bikers Dying?”

  1. fasthair Says:

    Funny you should post this and talk about the new study that is “under way.” You might want to give this guys blog a read about the trouble this new study is having. I just read this the other day. brand new blog too.

    http://motorcyclesafetynews.com/?p=90

    fasthair

  2. Torch Says:

    “Why are these people dying? What mistakes are they making? What mistakes are other motorists making? How can these deaths be prevented? What can I learn from this?”

    Very good questions. We could use a compiled list of frequent mistakes, what to watch for, and how to avoid those situations.

    Your Passes & Canyons website is very clean and reader friendly. I like it.

    Ride on,
    Torch

  3. Ken Says:

    Thanks for that heads-up, Fasthair. I had no idea this thing was stuck at the starting gate. I’ll definitely keep my eye on it more closely.

  4. Mesa Accident Says:

    Riding a motorbike, I believe, should require wearing all protective gears from head to foot. There is no excuse for not wearing it because accidents could become fatal with the simplest mistake.

  5. » Blog Archive » Update: Motorcycle Crash Study in Jeopardy Says:

    […] owe this heads-up to Fasthair, who, in response to my post asking “Why Are All These Bikers Dying?,” sent me the link I’ll give you […]

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