Are You a Dead Biker and Don’t Even Know it?
July 29, 2009
From the moment you told someone you want a motorcycle, you have heard the same message over and over again. Friends, family members, colleagues, and even strangers feel compelled to make sure you understand one thing. Motorcycles are very dangerous. Guess what? They are 100% right.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are over 8 million registered motorcycles on the road in the United States. They also report that approximately 80% of motorcycle accidents compared to 20% of automobile accidents result in injury or death. This means that if you are in an accident on a motorcycle, it is highly likely that at the very least you will be hurt. That is a sobering thought.
Besides the obvious fact that motorcycles offer virtually zero protection if involved in a crash, there are other less obvious reasons for injuries from motorcycle crashes. A few include:
- Not wearing a helmet
- Not wearing protective motorcycle gear
- Alcohol consumption
- Exceeding posted speed limits
- Failure to ride defensively
- Improper cornering or braking
- Racing
- Lack of proper motorcycle maintenance
The list above could have been 100 or more characteristics long but for the sake of this assessment, let’s look at these 8 as our starting point. Honestly take inventory of your riding habits and ask yourself, do these characteristics apply to me?
Bear in mind, any of the above characteristic can plant you in a cemetery; just imagine if a few of them describe your riding disposition. If so, you are a dead biker. Here’s the good news, you don’t have to be and it is never too late to make safety and fun your priority.
By changing just a few behaviors, you greatly increase your chances of avoiding injury and death.
- Take a state approved motorcycle safety course
- Drive defensively
- Always wear a DOT/SNELL approved helmet
- Always wear protective motorcycle gear
- Never drink and ride
- Obey all posted speed limits
Motorcycling will always be dangerous and there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of an accident. Just make sure you don’t add to the risk with your behavior. Keep in mind, motorcycling is only fun when you are alive and healthy. Enjoy the road and ride safely.
Posted Under: Motorcycle Accidents, Motorcycle Safety Tags: DOT/SNELL Approved Helmet, motorcycle accidents, motorcycle crashes, motorcycling, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, NHTSA, proper motorcycle maintenance, protective motorcycle gear, riding a motorcycle, state approved motorcycle safety course
