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I enjoy riding motorcycles with my wife
and friends, but we also appreciate the greater risk
involved compared to riding in a car. Defensive
driving is a must in a car, but a motorcyclist has
to be extra cautious. The NHTSA reported 3,162
motorcycle deaths in 2002, and calculated that per
mile traveled, the number of motorcycle deaths is
about 26 times the number in cars. Motorcycles are
less stable and less visible than cars, and they
have high performance capabilities. For these and
other reasons, motorcycles are more likely than cars
to be involved in crashes. And when motorcycles
crash, their riders lack the protection of an
enclosed vehicle, so they're more likely to be
injured or killed. Injuries can be severe, including
broken limbs, burns, head injuries, and paralysis.
These accidents can be particularly tragic when they
involve young people.
The NHTSA reports that five crash types
account for 86 per cent of fatal motorcycle crashes:
motorcycle runs off road (41%); motorcycle or other
vehicle runs traffic control (18%); head on (11%);
car turns in front of motorcycle (8%); motorcycle
goes down in roadway (7%).
Defensive driving is a must in a car,
but a motorcyclist has to be extra cautious. No one
should operate a motorcycle without first completing
a state approved operator's course, which are
regularly offered by the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation. Your state highway patrol office will
have schedules and registration information. The
hands on course covers the basics of operating the
bike, and the kinds of protective gear such as
helmets, gloves, and abrasion resistant clothing.
The rider must complete basic safety maneuvers to
"graduate." No one should ride on the back of a
motorcycle unless the operator is qualified. The MSF
also offers excellent courses for experienced riders
in advanced safety maneuvers and techniques.
Unfortunately, you can do everything
right - complete the MSF class, wear protective and
high visibility gear, obey the traffic laws - and
still get hit by a negligent driver. If you or a
loved one have been injured by a negligent driver,
you have the right to have your medical bills paid
by his insurer. The same is true if you were injured
as a backseat passenger on a motorcycle, and the
operator was at fault. Please contact our office if
you have been injured
For more detailed information, you can
read the government reports at
www.hwysafety.org/safety_facts/fatality_motorcycle.htm,
or order "The Hurt Report," National Technical
Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Rd.,
Springfield, VA 22161.
Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate
Guide to Riding Well, by David Hough, Bowtie Press
is an excellent source. |
