Saturday, March 21, 2009

Riding Season is here

KEY FACTS on Motorcycle Accidents... Ride safely everyone....!

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 5,154 people died in motorcycle crashes, the highest level since NHTSA began collecting data in 1975. The 2007 figure represents a 6.6 percent from 4,837 the previous year.

Motorcycle crash fatalities have increased every year for the past 10 years.

According to the latest data available from the Federal Highway Administration, there were 7.1 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2007, compared with 137.8 million passenger cars.

Motorcycles accounted for nearly 3 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.4 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2007, according to the NHTSA.

Some 123,000 motorcycles were involved in crashes in 2007, including property damage-only crashes, according to latest data from the NHTSA.

Motorcyclists were 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled in 2006 and eight times more likely to be injured, according to NHTSA.

The fatality rate per registered vehicle for motorcyclists in 2007 was 6 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants, according to NHTSA.

12 comments:

Nikos said...

It would be good to see Ron Gallop at 85mph with his stabiliser wheela up...

Donnie Smith said...

That's scary! Did not realize the motorcycles could be 35 times greater.

"Joker" said...

Been there, done that, survived, still limp.

I learned my lesson the hard way. Maybe it was just shitty luck, maybe if I was less cocky, maybe, maybe, maybe. That all doesn't mean a lot now. It's done.

I recommend as much gear as you can stand, all the time. All beginners should take a beginner's course, and all experienced riders should take the advanced course. I was amazed at what I learned, even after years of riding on my own. My biggest tip is never assume. Treat every cage you see like the driver is a moron and could hit you at any time.

One of my biggest things is STAY OUT OF DRIVER's BLIND SPOTS! If you can't see them in their mirror, THEY CANT SEE YOU! Next, don't be too proud to yield to cages turning. I know we all get the "I have the right-of-way" feeling, but it's safer to slow and wave the cage to turn, then to speed up and hope he do it anyway, when it's already too late for you.

Practice on your horn. The horn button on a bike isn't as natural to find as the horn in a cage. If you never use your horn and don't practice, when you do need it, guess what - YOU'LL FUMBLE FOR IT AND IF/WHEN YOU FIND IT, it'll be TOO LATE! Covering your brakes and horn when cages are anywhere near you can give you the VERY VALUABLE 2 or 3 seconds you need to avoid an accident.

Sometimes, no matter what we do, we can be hit through no fault of our own. Still, it makes sense to go out there as prepared as you can to make sure if there was something you COULD have done, that YOU DO IT. It's all about habits. Good ones save you. Bad ones can get you killed.

Ok, getting down off my soap box.

Baron's Life said...

Nikos,
Yeah it would buddy....but can he do it?

Donnie...I also never thought it was...but live and learn as they say.

Joker...yeah its' the blind spot..for sure. I try very hard on this even in my Dodge RAM...but your advice is well heeded overall and I would encourage everyone to read it... we wnat to see everyone back here end of the riding season... How did you like the rented horse?

Voegtli said...

I have gathered, since I follow you, that you are into motor cycling? So, just be very careful on the road.

Lance said...

Thanks Baron - Sobering, but important, information as we take to the road. Ride safe my friend, and keep on blogging!

Baron's Life said...

Hi Peter,
Yes you are correct my good friend.
I rode my first motorcycle when I was 13 years old and got hooked. (It's better than SEX so to speak)My Dad had a 1945 British army BSA and he taught me how to ride...and man I was hooked. I have owned many cars and trucks..but nothing compares to what we call an iron horse...

Baron's Life said...

Hey Lance... Thanks for the comment and congrats on your new wheels... enjoy in good health and ride safely

Helio Herbert said...

Muito interessante as matérias do seu blog,voltarei mais vezes.Saudações.

Baron's Life said...

Helio Herbert
Gracias.

Anonymous said...

Only 35 times greater...Not nearly as bad as I thought!

Joker makes a good point about covering the brakes ''just in case'' I do that and it does give you an extra couple of seconds, and if you also just ease off the throttle just a little, that shortens your stopping distance aswell, I do both whenever some cars are manouvering around near me.

Baron's Life said...

Dave
Totally agree...