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The question...... (How to decrease motorcycle fatalities)

Rel said:
So, what I got so far is this:

1. Require dealerships to ensure that new buyers have an M1.
2. Require all new riders to go through a rider safety course.
3. Stiffer penalties for persons operating vehicles without proper endorsements and/or licenses.

What about putting together a video that is handed to all new bike owners promoting safety, testimonials from riders and family members of fallen riders, and basic equipment issues. Can't force people to watch it, but if it helps one rider, wouldnt that be the payoff?
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1. I agree you should have an M1 or AT LEAST a permit before you ride off w/ a new bike.:thumbup
2. Rider safety has to be more accessible, like shortening waiting lists.
3. You mean like Arnold? :rofl Really simple; no d/l or outta class the ride gets towed to bike jail.

I don't buy into the whole tiered licensing thing, but I would like to see riders that under 25 on bikes smaller than 650s and build up experience before they get in over their heads. If I had a litre bike at 25, I wouldn't be posting this today. :|
 
How to save lives

Rel said:
What is it going to take, and what can be done to lower the number of deaths of motorcycle riders?
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Two basic things:

First, riders should be trained in the art of defensive riding skills and common sense riding habits. There should be some way to encourage riders to wear good protective gear at all times.

Second: Car and truck drivers should be made to take driver education courses that INCLUDE basic literacy on motorcyle riding, lane sharing, visiblility issues etc.

Then there will be a reduction in fatalities. Personally I would recommend legislating the above suggestions, but I am someplace to the right of Mussolini...and to the left of Lenin. So I see the need for legislative intervention where there is a lack of basic common sense.

But what to do I know, having survived 40 years of daily commuting, track days, competition and road trips, and the usual ride around the neighborhood?


Enough to be here and tell you how to save lives!

thanks for the opportunity to help.

PS
Graduated licensing is a way to protect people from their own lack of humility.
 
Cyclesuzy said:
Ant great idea ... if anyone needs contact information for their legislators' staff people, please let me know. Depending on if/when/where event is held, I would invite that district's reps.
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I think inviting reps from any district would be a good thing, the more awareness raised the better. It's all about connections and getting the ear of the right people.
 
moto-rama said:
Two basic things:

First, riders should be trained in the art of defensive riding skills and common sense riding habits. There should be some way to encourage riders to wear good protective gear at all times.
Click to expand...

It's really unfortunate, but you can't TEACH common sense, due to the fact that common sense is not common. :|
 
Rel said:
Well....

I hadn't but.... I guess I can. Would that be something people would go to?
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I think the problem with this is, I would attend! And I am not your target audience. Getting the people there who need to attend is the challenge. Most of those who go to these events are for the most part law abiding citizens looking for some tips and info to stay safer.

When I was in HS it was mandatory to take drivers ed with behind the wheel training. Why shouldn't it be the same for riding? Riders ed and behind the bars training?
 
A lot of good points here. I would like to see an effort in increasing moto awareness backed by the state. I would like to see ads on TV increasing awareness. And I would really love to see signs posted on left hand side of major freeways,

"Please watch out for lane-splitting motorcycles"

or how about 3+ ft wide moto only lane between lanes 1 and 2?

I would like more commuters out there to know that lanesplitting is legal and recommended.

About 20 years ago, i saw a pic in a moto magazine, it was a pic of a billboard(prolly out-of-state), with a high-ranking LEO and it said

"My daughter rides a motorcycle, please drive carefully."
 
I'd start with a "real" license.

Back in Europe, where we have a "tired" system, and "Real" driving classes, those accidents are much less common.
(http://www.motorradonline.de/news/unfallstatistik-2004---ein-positives-minus.147022.htm)

Car licenses in this country a a joke.... and i understand why. Driving a car is seen as a "basic human right")

But - riding bikes is (and should be treated as) a Luxury / Sport.
There is nothing wrong with rtaising the bar to this sport, and making it harder for the average person to obtain the privilege to steer a fighter plane, or - ride a motorcycle.

I'd be all for "real" licenses, which like in europe, cost ~$1.000 to 2.000 to obtain, and take a student to demonstrate maturity, financial responsibility and a decent level of skill.

... ok, now FLAME ON!
 
I just remembered that there are a couple of legislators who ride. Mike Duvall (72nd A.D.) is one and I could probably figure out the other(s). As a rider Duvall may have more interest in sponsoring legislation requiring M1s for new bike purchasers. 72nd Assembly District encompasses the cities of Anaheim - Brea - Fullerton - La Habra - Orange - Placentia - Yorba Linda. Anyone from those areas here on BARF?
 
Good topic Rel.:thumbup

Regarding the original figures, it is clear the most important figure is left out: the number of new riders (and also other atuo/truck) drivers. If the fatalities have risen 10+%, but the overall ridership has risen 15+%, then you would actually have a statistical reduction in fatalities. I'll never understand why they leave that info out. Hard to imagine a 15% increase in riders, but it would need to factor in.

IMO, 70-80% of the problem can be solved by a focus on education, rather than a focus on legislation and enforcement.

I think this is pretty much par for the course in everything though.

If a kid never learns to control a bike when something he/she doesn't understand happens, then he/she will crash and maybe die. So, educate them to actually control a motorcycle. I don't feel MSF is even close to being enough. It's a good start. But thinking a kid can safely do a 2 day test on a Nighthawk 250 then turn around and hit HWY9 on an R6 is beyond retarded. This certainly goes for cars as well. Most young riders/drivers are painfully inept. DANGEROUSLY inept. Why? Because they haven't been made to learn. Their parents and society in general doesn't think it is important to teach them, despite the horrifying cost out on highways. We all know at least one person who bought the farm out on the road. Sheesh, I can think of many. It's like getting your youngster a Daisy Red Ryder on his 8th birthday and teaching him to use it, then figuring he is ready for the Remington 30-06.

Also, how could these fatalities be the responsibility of a motorcycle dealer? So, if some young hotshot wraps his WRX/EVO/Corvette around a tree, and happens to be unlicensed, suddenly it is partially the dealers fault? If there is one thing motorcycling stand for it should be personal responsibility!!

This should be the FIRST lesson of every rider, imo.
 
"the question...how to stop motorcycle fatalities?"
I think that's the wrong question alltogether.
 
Good to know.

I can see this issue "Having an M1 license prior to buying a motorcycle" being shot down because motorcycle dealers and manufactures will see sales go down, and they cant have that.

Cyclesuzy said:
I just remembered that there are a couple of legislators who ride. Mike Duvall (72nd A.D.) is one and I could probably figure out the other(s). As a rider Duvall may have more interest in sponsoring legislation requiring M1s for new bike purchasers. 72nd Assembly District encompasses the cities of Anaheim - Brea - Fullerton - La Habra - Orange - Placentia - Yorba Linda. Anyone from those areas here on BARF?
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Var said:
"the question...how to stop motorcycle fatalities?"
I think that's the wrong question alltogether.
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What would be a better question?

I'm not being a smartass. I think there probably are better ways to look at the problem, and I'm interested in what you think.
 
Rel said:
Good to know.

I can see this issue "Having an M1 license prior to buying a motorcycle" being shot down because motorcycle dealers and manufactures will see sales go down, and they cant have that.
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And you don't need proof of insurance either with Yamaha-Kawasaki-Suzuki because it's basically a credit card type financing and not a loan.
 
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