Quote: (02-27-2017 05:59 AM)H1N1 Wrote:
Every time I think I'm sold on getting my license and getting a bike, someone I know who rides fucks themselves up badly.
Sorry to hear about your friend. Hope he recovers quickly.
I was in a similar headspace when I got my first bike a few years back. My mom hated the idea of it and kept sending me articles quoting motorcycle accident/fatality statistics. Most of them did seem pretty awful, so I dug into the data to see exactly how the risks were distributed.
It turns out that, much like driving any other vehicle, a few simple precautions can dramatically reduce your chances of an accident/injury. Just to quote a few examples:
Alcohol:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2014, 29% of motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or over.
Fatally-injured motorcycle riders between the ages of 35 to 39 had the highest rate of alcohol involvement (42%), followed by the 40 to 45 age group (41%).
Speeding: 33% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
Licensing: 28% of motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal crashes in 2014 were riding without a valid license (and thus unlikely to have completed a safety/training course).
Helmets:
In 2015, 37% of fatally-injured motorcycle drivers lacked helmets.
Passenger use was even worse, with 51% of killed passengers not wearing helmets at the time of the accident.
The reported helmet use rate for motorcycle riders with BACs at or over 0.08 percent who were killed in traffic crashes was 51% in 2014, compared with 67% for those who did not have any measurable blood alcohol.
I couldn't find any data regarding body armor, but I assume the pattern remains the same, with a sizable chunk of riders neglecting to wear protective jackets/pants/gloves/boots/etc.
This is easily reinforced by anecdotal evidence: for every rider (like myself) I see wearing head-to-toe protection with a full-face helmet, I see some idiot on a Harley wearing jeans and a tank top with nothing on his head but a pair of Ray-bans.
And how many bikers hang out at bars on Thursday/Friday/Saturday night, then ride home intoxicated, in the dark, again without any protective gear?
So for anyone else reading this thread, perhaps also wary of the dangers involved in riding, keep in mind there's a curve of risk possibilities just like with any other endeavor.
Take a safety course before you start riding (and again every couple of years). Get yourself an armored jacket as well as pants and gloves. Don't speed in congested urban areas. Don't drink and drive. Ride like all other drivers are out to kill you. And always, always, ALWAYS wear a helmet.
Hopefully that'll keep you on the bike for years to come.