exskibum
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This is from another rider on a guitar bulletin board I frequent. He "presented it to a room full of four wheelers mainly to point out that car drivers are killing motorcyclists." I thought it was so good that I asked his permission to copy it and post it here:
In the realm of knowledge is power I offer some information and statistics I recently presented at a company safety meeting.
There are over 4 million motorcycles registered in the United States. The popularity of this mode of transportation is attributed to the low initial cost of a motorcycle, its use as a pleasure vehicle and, for some models, the good fuel efficiency. Motorcycle fatalities represent approximately five percent of all highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles represent just two percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. One of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the motorcycle itself provides virtually no protection in a crash. For example, approximately 80 percent of reported motor- cycle crashes result in injury or death; a comparable figure for automobiles is about 20 percent.
An automobile has more weight and bulk than a motorcycle. It has door beams and a roof to provide some measure of protection from impact or rollover. It has cushioning and airbags to soften impact and safety belts to hold passengers in their seats. It has windshield washers and wipers to assist visibility in the rain and snow. An automobile has more stability because it's on four wheels, and because of its size, it is easier to see. A motorcycle suffers in comparison when considering vehicle characteristics that directly contribute to occupant safety. What a motorcycle sacrifices in weight, bulk, and other crashworthiness characteristics is somewhat offset by its agility, maneuverability, ability to stop quickly, and ability to swerve quickly when necessary
A motorcyclist should attend a motorcycle rider-training course to learn how to safely and skillfully operate a motorcycle. A motorcyclist has to be more careful and aware at intersections, where most motorcycle -vehicle collisions occur. Motorcyclists must remain visible to other motorists at all times. Don't ride in a car's "No Zone" (blind spot). Anticipate what may happen more than other vehicle drivers may. For example, anticipate that drivers backing their cars out of driveways may not see you; and place greater emphasis on defensive driving. Motorcyclists also must be more cautious when riding in inclement weather, on slippery surfaces, or when encountering obstacles on the roadway. They must place greater reliance on their helmet, eye protection and clothing to increase riding comfort and to reduce the severity of injury should they become involved in a crash. Approximately half of all fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crashes involve alcohol. A motorcycle requires more skill and coordination to operate than a car. Riding a motorcycle while under the influence of any amount of alcohol significantly decreases an operator's ability to operate the motorcycle safely. An estimated 33 percent of motorcycle operators killed in traffic crashes are not licensed or are improperly licensed to operate a motorcycle. By not obtaining a motorcycle operator license, riders are bypassing the only method they and state licensing agencies have to ensure they have the knowledge and skill needed to safely and skillfully operate a motorcycle.
When motorcycles crash with other vehicles, the other vehicle driver often violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. For example, 2005 FARS data show that in 38 percent of the two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle. Motorcycles and motorcyclists obviously are a smaller visual object than cars or trucks. Other motorists may misjudge the distance and speed of an oncoming motorcycle because of its smaller size. Motorcyclists may not be conspicuous. Other motorists may not expect to see motorcycles on the road and may not be familiar with motorcycle riding practices.
Approximately three-fourths of all motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle. Two-thirds of these accidents were caused by the motorist failing to yield the right of way. The most common reason given by the motorist involved in these accidents is that they 'didn't see' the motorcycle. These types of accidents account for approximately 50 percent of ALL motorcycle accidents! Recent scientific studies focusing on a phenomenon known as 'inattentional blindness' may help us understand why car drivers often end up causing accidents with motorcycles they 'didn't see.'"
If you are interested in trends in safety statistics, here is one that NHTSA shows as remaining constant for ten years: About 90% of all motorcycle fatalities occur on roads that are NOT DIVIDED or have NO MEDIAN BARRIER (as opposed to exit/entry ramps, one-way streets, or roads with median barriers). Combining this with the above yields the following:
• 90% of all motorcycle fatalities occur on undivided roads, where automobile drivers can most easily violate the right-of-way of motorcyclists.
• 75% of all motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle.
• 66% of all multi-vehicular motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists failing to yield the right-of-way to motorcycles.
• 50% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by the inattentional blindness of automobile drivers.
As previously stated, and as the foregoing and other statistics support, the greatest single problem in the motorcycle safety arena today is the negligence, distraction and inattentional blindness of automobile drivers.
In the realm of knowledge is power I offer some information and statistics I recently presented at a company safety meeting.
There are over 4 million motorcycles registered in the United States. The popularity of this mode of transportation is attributed to the low initial cost of a motorcycle, its use as a pleasure vehicle and, for some models, the good fuel efficiency. Motorcycle fatalities represent approximately five percent of all highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles represent just two percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. One of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the motorcycle itself provides virtually no protection in a crash. For example, approximately 80 percent of reported motor- cycle crashes result in injury or death; a comparable figure for automobiles is about 20 percent.
An automobile has more weight and bulk than a motorcycle. It has door beams and a roof to provide some measure of protection from impact or rollover. It has cushioning and airbags to soften impact and safety belts to hold passengers in their seats. It has windshield washers and wipers to assist visibility in the rain and snow. An automobile has more stability because it's on four wheels, and because of its size, it is easier to see. A motorcycle suffers in comparison when considering vehicle characteristics that directly contribute to occupant safety. What a motorcycle sacrifices in weight, bulk, and other crashworthiness characteristics is somewhat offset by its agility, maneuverability, ability to stop quickly, and ability to swerve quickly when necessary
A motorcyclist should attend a motorcycle rider-training course to learn how to safely and skillfully operate a motorcycle. A motorcyclist has to be more careful and aware at intersections, where most motorcycle -vehicle collisions occur. Motorcyclists must remain visible to other motorists at all times. Don't ride in a car's "No Zone" (blind spot). Anticipate what may happen more than other vehicle drivers may. For example, anticipate that drivers backing their cars out of driveways may not see you; and place greater emphasis on defensive driving. Motorcyclists also must be more cautious when riding in inclement weather, on slippery surfaces, or when encountering obstacles on the roadway. They must place greater reliance on their helmet, eye protection and clothing to increase riding comfort and to reduce the severity of injury should they become involved in a crash. Approximately half of all fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crashes involve alcohol. A motorcycle requires more skill and coordination to operate than a car. Riding a motorcycle while under the influence of any amount of alcohol significantly decreases an operator's ability to operate the motorcycle safely. An estimated 33 percent of motorcycle operators killed in traffic crashes are not licensed or are improperly licensed to operate a motorcycle. By not obtaining a motorcycle operator license, riders are bypassing the only method they and state licensing agencies have to ensure they have the knowledge and skill needed to safely and skillfully operate a motorcycle.
When motorcycles crash with other vehicles, the other vehicle driver often violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. For example, 2005 FARS data show that in 38 percent of the two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle. Motorcycles and motorcyclists obviously are a smaller visual object than cars or trucks. Other motorists may misjudge the distance and speed of an oncoming motorcycle because of its smaller size. Motorcyclists may not be conspicuous. Other motorists may not expect to see motorcycles on the road and may not be familiar with motorcycle riding practices.
Approximately three-fourths of all motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle. Two-thirds of these accidents were caused by the motorist failing to yield the right of way. The most common reason given by the motorist involved in these accidents is that they 'didn't see' the motorcycle. These types of accidents account for approximately 50 percent of ALL motorcycle accidents! Recent scientific studies focusing on a phenomenon known as 'inattentional blindness' may help us understand why car drivers often end up causing accidents with motorcycles they 'didn't see.'"
If you are interested in trends in safety statistics, here is one that NHTSA shows as remaining constant for ten years: About 90% of all motorcycle fatalities occur on roads that are NOT DIVIDED or have NO MEDIAN BARRIER (as opposed to exit/entry ramps, one-way streets, or roads with median barriers). Combining this with the above yields the following:
• 90% of all motorcycle fatalities occur on undivided roads, where automobile drivers can most easily violate the right-of-way of motorcyclists.
• 75% of all motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle.
• 66% of all multi-vehicular motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists failing to yield the right-of-way to motorcycles.
• 50% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by the inattentional blindness of automobile drivers.
As previously stated, and as the foregoing and other statistics support, the greatest single problem in the motorcycle safety arena today is the negligence, distraction and inattentional blindness of automobile drivers.
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