Motorcycle Fatality Facts

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued its 2009 report on motorcycle fatality facts. AllAboutBikes.com has reviewed the report. Here's an excerpt from their report:

"Motorcycle fatalities only represent about a fifth of all fatalities on the road. In 2009, there were 23,437 fatalities involving passenger vehicles. But that doesn't mean that motorcycles are a safer way to travel. If you look at the amount of miles traveled, the government estimates that motorcycle deaths are 37 times more likely to occur." -- AllAboutBikes.com

Read more.

Honda Seeks Patent on Motorcycle Airbag System

Could an airbag find its way to your next new Honda motorcycle? Honda seems to be serious about this. Check out this recent United States patent application for a motorcycle airbag system, complete with drawings. What are your feelings about an airbag for your motorcycle? Are there better alternatives available?

Motorcycle Accidents - Save Yourself

I've been harping on safe riding for years. I even wrote 10 Ways To Be Safe on a Motorcycle. Please read my article and pass it on to your friends, even those who don't ride. We need to save a few lives and it all starts with you.

I see several motorcycle fatalities every day through my Google Alerts. Here's a representative article I just read. It will break your heart.

Reading a newspaper account of an accident like this always leaves the reader with questions about just what were the conditions under which the accident occurred. We've all heard reports that the driver didn't see the bike at all. Well, there are conditions where the sun is in your eyes and blocks out the rider. Or, some part of the structure of the car blocks your vision. I know this happens. I have to move forward, back, and side-to-side sometimes to be sure I can see the complete roadway when I'm waiting to turn in my car. And the small profile of a motorcycle coming at you is hard to see even under good conditions. Of course, these days, the possibility of the driver having a cell phone in their ear doesn't help at all.

I don't want to leave the motorcycle rider out here. We, as riders, don't always look out for ourselves. We know that we need to consider ourselves invisible to other drivers (and motorcyclists). That means always riding with space around us and constantly practicing defensive riding. Anticipate what a driver will do and allow space in case they do what you expect.

In the case of trying to prepare for a left-turner in front of you, always make sure you don't ride close to the car in front of you. A left-turner will see the car in front of you but you may be blocked from their view. The left-turner sees the car in front of you pass and makes a sudden left turn and you smash into them.

I heard of another accident where a car waiting to make a left turn did nothing wrong except they had their wheels turned left anticipating the turn when a vehicle behind them crashed into them and forced their car into the oncoming lane killing a motorcyclist. Folks, I thought everyone knew that you never turn your wheels at rest while waiting to turn. Always keep them straight ahead. If you're hit, you won't go into the oncoming lane.

I guess one could go on and on about left-turners and how to prevent motorcycle fatalities. However, I know these accidents will keep happening. But we all can prevent a few from happening. Reading my 10 Ways To Be Safe on a Motorcycle will help to put a few ideas in your head that may save your life. And really, all I'm trying to do is save you and keep you riding and riding and riding until the day you choose to stop riding. Hopefully, that day will never come.

If you have any comments on how to be safe on a motorcycle, leave them below.

Motorcycle Left-Turner Accidents - Don't Be a Statistic

I've been harping on safe riding for years. I even wrote 10 Ways To Be Safe on a Motorcycle. Apparently, even with my audience at About.com, I didn't reach enough riders. Another rider just lost his life only two miles from my house. He struck a left turning driver.

Please read my article and pass it on to your friends, even those who don't ride. We need to save a few lives and it all starts with you.

Reading a newspaper account of an accident like this always leaves the reader with questions about just what were the conditions under which the accident occurred. We've all heard reports that the driver didn't see the bike at all. Well, there are conditions where the sun is in your eyes and blocks out the rider. Or, some part of the structure of the car blocks your vision. I know this happens. I have to move forward, back, and side-to-side sometimes to be sure I can see the complete roadway when I'm waiting to turn in my car. And the small profile of a motorcycle coming at you is hard to see even under good conditions. Of course, these days, the possibility of the driver having a cell phone in their ear doesn't help at all.

I don't want to leave the motorcycle rider out here. We, as riders, don't always look out for ourselves. We know that we need to consider ourselves invisible to other drivers (and motorcyclists). That means always riding with space around us and constantly practicing defensive riding. Anticipate what a driver will do and allow space in case they do what you expect.

In the case of trying to prepare for a left-turner in front of you, always make sure you don't ride close to the car in front of you. A left-turner will see the car in front of you but you may be blocked from their view. The left-turner sees the car in front of you pass and makes a sudden left turn and you smash into them.

I heard of another accident where a car waiting to make a left turn did nothing wrong except they had their wheels turned left anticipating the turn when a vehicle behind them crashed into them and forced their car into the oncoming lane killing a motorcyclist. Folks, I thought everyone knew that you never turn your wheels at rest while waiting to turn. Always keep them straight ahead. If you're hit, you won't go into the oncoming lane.

I guess one could go on and on about left-turners and how to prevent motorcycle fatalities. However, I know these accidents will keep happening. But we all can prevent a few from happening. Reading my 10 Ways To Be Safe on a Motorcycle will help to put a few ideas in your head that may save your life. And really, all I'm trying to do is save you and keep you riding and riding and riding until the day you choose to stop riding. Hopefully, that day will never come.

If you have any comments on how to be safe on a motorcycle, leave them below.

Biker Tribute to CBR600 Hottie

I've ridden in a few biker tributes and funeral processions. It's sad to know that a fellow rider has died while riding his or her bike. Here's the story of Sherri Linkous of Largo, FL killed while riding to work on her sportbike on July 17, 2007. Known as CBR600 Hottie, Sherri had friends all over. Read her story on sptimes.com and then view the tribute video, below.

Family of Dead Motorcyclist Sues Over Lack of Enhanced 911

From the Northwest Herald regarding a suit brought by the family of a motorcyclist who died in a cornfield in Illinois after he was unable to identify his location by cellphone:

"The family of a Capron motorcyclist who rescue workers could not find for hours filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday against officials from two counties. The man had called 911 from his cell phone after he crashed in a cornfield near Harvard.

An attorney for the family of Kurt A. Regnier alleged McHenry and Winnebago County officials were negligent for not using available funds to promptly upgrade their emergency telephone systems, upgrades that would allow police to pinpoint within 500 feet from where cellular 911 calls were dialed."

This story has received considerable online comments (over 120) with almost every viewpoint represented. The rider was legally drunk according to the story and the county had already received funds to upgrade their 911 service to allow GPS location capability but had not even begun work on the project. Read the details of this tragic story and don't forget to scan through the many comments.