Fatal accidents - how can they be prevented?-vent

[Cetawin]

I rode one for many years and plan to again soon. I saw many accidents on I-95 between west Palm Beach and Miami daily and it is horrible. Sadly, most motorcycle accidents are caused because drivers in cars do not see the motorcyle or (the stupidist one I have heard in court to date) "I saw it but they are faster and manuver better so I thought he could move out the way". it is rare that a motorcyclist is just driving crazy...there are those young fools out there but most bike riders are responsible drivers.

At the time I was riding, a helmet was required by law, when they changed that, I still wore a 500.00 kevlar full coverage racing helmet. The reason is simple...I demonstrated it to my kids one day...at 10 mph I dropped a small watermelon from the bike onto the pavement and then told the kids...that is your head in a crash without a helmet. They both refuse to go without one.

I think folks in cars need to be more aware of their surroundings. When you are in a car there is a certain "secure and safe" feeling...more goes unnoticed. When you are on a bike, you see everything around you because every small thing is a potential hazard. You see the car parked 6 spaces up with a driver sitting in it and you EXPECT the idiot to open the door and never look for your....so you are prepared to avoid hitting the door. It is a good day when the person does not open that door.

Driving a motorcyle has made me a more aware automobile driver or sure.

Prevention is to teach them to use safety equipment, to watch the road and the areas around them, to be aware of everything and to slow down and drive responsibly...to expect the other drivers to be fools and be prepared to avoid them.

 

[can you hear me now?]

This is my opinion on helmets. I have a friend that was riding about 12 years ago now and somebody pulled out in front of him. They just weren't looking. Anyway he was thrown quite a distance from the bike while wearing his helmet. It cracked into 2 or more peices and was found about 50 feet from where he was found. He sustained numerous injuries including 3 different spinal fractures. He lived and is lucky enough that none of those fractures caused any paralyzing disabilities, he can still get around just like we can. Did that helmet save his life?You bet it did, if it weren't for the helmet that thing cracked into peices most likely would have been his head. If you choose not to wear one that is your choice. I hope reading this may help somebody make the right choice for themselves.

 

[Rosalind]

I dunno. At this point, I think people just have to take responsibility for their own risks, really. As others have pointed out, accidents happen--and they happen in cars that get hit by SUVs and trucks, SUVs that get hit by tractor trailers, etc. Roadways just are not 100% safe at any time.

AFAIK the rate of fatal train crashes is much lower than motorcycle/car/truck crashes, due to the rails keeping most everything in line. However, just recently our local light rail system had a big crash (conductor going too fast, hit a train in front of her) and a few people have had bad accidents that killed a couple and maimed a few more--things like kids walking along the tracks, a couple of not-too-bright girls sunbathing on the tracks, people falling or being pushed off the platform into the path of oncoming trains. So, hmm.

I wish more people took public transportation though. Or I wish our public transit systems were a lot better. There's still not nearly so many bus or train crashes as there are car crashes.

 

[skeeter9]

I honestly think that, no matter how careful everyone is, there are going to be accidents and people are going to get hurt. To me, the risks of getting hurt while riding a motorcycle just aren't worth it - I can get hurt badly enough with a car or pickup around me to take some of the punishment! We've lived in our house for a little over 3 years and the road coming up here is steep and windy, with no room on either side for error ( the road is cut into the side of the hills/mountains). I can't tell you the number of serious motorcycle accidents we've had around here in those 3 years. People love to ride up here because it's pretty, etc, but all it takes is one error in judgement on the turns and BAM! It's not always the motorcycle riders' fault or the car/truck driver's fault, but it's almost always someone driving too fast and cutting blind corners. Very sad!

 

[KKluckers]

A close friend of mine died in a motorcycle crash two years ago. He raced Motorcross and was one of the best dirt bike riders i have seen. He was wearing a helmet, but when your going 70+ that really does nothing to protect you. Im sorry for your loss of your friend. I think they should have better laws. Here in Wa you have to wear a helmet. More people are buying motorcycles because of the gas prices. It scares me to think how little they are protected!