Rise by More Than 6 Percent
Moderator: Modern Buddy Staff
Rise by More Than 6 Percent
Motorcyclists Deaths’ Rise by More Than 6 Percent
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15fatal.html?hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15fatal.html?hp
- PasadenaSue
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The article pointed out some areas where people can protect themselves.
"in 1975, 47 states required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, but now only 20 do."
That is significant!! Living in California, we are required to wear helmets. Being a bicycle rider as well, I can't imagine riding a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle without wearing a helmet (just my preference).
"At the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which is financed by the manufacturers, Tim Buche, the president, said a person killed on a motorcycle was 2.5 times more likely to be under the influence of alcohol than a person killed in a car and three times more likely not to have a proper license."
Again, someone can make a decision to do something that will help them beat the odds. And as automobile related deaths decline, that can push the percentage of people killed in motorcycle accidents up, even if the total number remains the same.
PasadenaSue
"in 1975, 47 states required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, but now only 20 do."
That is significant!! Living in California, we are required to wear helmets. Being a bicycle rider as well, I can't imagine riding a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle without wearing a helmet (just my preference).
"At the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which is financed by the manufacturers, Tim Buche, the president, said a person killed on a motorcycle was 2.5 times more likely to be under the influence of alcohol than a person killed in a car and three times more likely not to have a proper license."
Again, someone can make a decision to do something that will help them beat the odds. And as automobile related deaths decline, that can push the percentage of people killed in motorcycle accidents up, even if the total number remains the same.
PasadenaSue
- MikieTaps
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- ericalm
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Six percent is actually lower than I'd have guessed. I think the stats for 2008 will jump significantly.
Cars are getting safer. Bikes are not.
Cars are getting safer. Bikes are not.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- runtotorun121
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Actually, it means there are more morons driving cars who need safer cars since they are more irresponsible drivers. It's a way of relieving the driver from the stress of accepting the consequences of their bad behavior. Same as everywhere else in our society. "It's the car's fault I got hurt...NOT my stupidity!!!"runtotorun121 wrote:Meaning cars are having less accidents, or manufacturers are making cars safer in case of an accident?ericalm wrote: Cars are getting safer. Bikes are not.
As for bikes not getting safer, NOT TRUE. Better brakes, better tires, better suspensions, MSF courses all make for safer bikes. Also the Honda Goldwing is now available with an airbag.
--Keys
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- ericalm
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Meaning fewer fatalities when cars do crash.runtotorun121 wrote:Meaning cars are having less accidents, or manufacturers are making cars safer in case of an accident?ericalm wrote: Cars are getting safer. Bikes are not.
Plenty of MB members also drive cars. Most, I'd say.kazoo wrote:In my opinion most automobiles have no souls on board, just crash dummies.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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- illnoise
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That was the first thing I thought, if the flat NUMBER went up 6% that's surely less than the increase in motorcycles and scooters lately.MikieTaps wrote:Sure deaths have risen by 6 percent, but how about the NUMBER of riders increase overall. I bet there are more than 6 percent more motorcycle riders...
They make reference in the story to "per 100 million vehicle miles traveled" which would be a fair way to compare, but it's not clear if that refers to the 6% number or not, in the lede they just say "The number of…" which implies the raw figure. Sloppy journalism, kinda.
Bb.
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Oh, like the popular LA bumper sticker "drum machines have no soul?"kazoo wrote:As well as Kazoo. Implying that Riding in a car is so commonplace. Like Ducati's have souls... all in that vein. You get the point, I think.
ericalm wrote:Plenty of MB members also drive cars. Most, I'd say.kazoo wrote:In my opinion most automobiles have no souls on board, just crash dummies.
My car has soul. It's superbad.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…