Public Policies and Motorcycle Safety

Two universities in Florida recently analyzed the effect of public policies in reducing motorcycle injuries and deaths.

Researchers from the University of Miami and the Florida International University compiled fatal and non-fatal motorcycle injuries with state laws, population characteristics and environmental characteristics. The study covered the period from 1990 to 2005.

Information came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System and state traffic agencies.

The goal was to estimate the effects of alcohol and traffic policies on fatal and non-fatal injuries.

Several striking conclusions were seen:

Universal Helmet Laws

About 489 lives could have been saved if helmet laws were in effect nation-wide in 2005. The large magnitude of this effect was unexpected by the authors of the study. Helmet laws dominated all other traffic safety policies, highlighting the importance of wearing a helmet to minimize the consequences of a crash.

Mandatory Rider Education Programs

Programs for training and educating new motorcyclists reduced non-fatal motorcycle injuries, according to result of the study.

Higher Speed Limits

Interestingly, higher speed limits on rural interstate highways worked in the opposite direction for the non-fatal injury rate. Fewer injuries resulted from higher speeds. One possible explanation may be that states with the higher speed limits also have more dangerous road conditions, so that crashes more often resulted in deaths, rather than non-fatal injuries. Another factor may be the characteristics of rural states, with less traffic congestion, allowing higher speed limits.

License Revocation Policies

Having laws that revoke or suspend the operators license of traffic offenders actually resulted in higher rates of non-fatal injuries. No explanation was given for this unexpected analysis.

The study was unable to account for other important factors that vary from state to state, such as enforcement policies and advocacy groups.

The researchers intend to focus now on how the universal helmet policies reduce fatalities and whether the effects change over time.

Read more...

Lessons Learned

First, a big thank-you to gengrasharleydavidson.com and their Twitter stream (http://twitter.com/Gengras_Cycles)...they pointed me to this interesting article published by R&D Magazine (www.rdmag.com).

Now, some lessons learned:

Helmets

Wearing an adequate helmet will probably save your life in the event of a crash. There should be no doubt in your mind that wearing the helmet is better than not wearing it...the risk is too great.

A common objection is along the lines of "It's my life, my brain, my ride." But that is false, selfish, distorted thinking. If you are rendered comatose or dead from brain injury resulting from a motorcycle crash, your decision to not wear a helmet will devastate a huge network of friends, family and fellow motorcyclists. Your injury will bring horror to possibly hundreds of people.

There is no guarantee with a helmet...that's why I'm careful to write that it will "probably save your life". And there is, of course the chance that wearing a helmet will actually cause spinal injury in the event of a less than catastrophic crash, but we must put these "exceptions" in proper persepective. Riding with a helmet will usually, more often than not, almost always, protect your brain, mind, and emotions better than riding without a helmet.

Rider Education

I'm a huge fan of basic and experienced rider training. 25 years of experience is usually just one year's worth of learning multiplied 25 times...it's not really skilled, progressive, practiced training. There is no substitute for learning the basic skills, practicing them often, and improving advanced techniques. This cannot be done by commuting to work or three hours on a weekend ride for fun...the training must be focused and observed by someone who can, and will, critique your skills.

I'm beginning to internally close my ears and ratchet down my respect for motorcyclists who say something like, "I don't need no basic training...I've been riding for 25 years, for goodness sake!" To me, they are saying that they know how to twist a throttle and stamp on gears, but they know little about the true skills of motorcycling:

Advanced turning

Maximum braking

Slow speed operation

Street-riding strategies

Critical situations

Stopping on a curve

Swerving and evasive maneuvers

Alert readers will recognize my regurgitation of the topics covered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation books. I'm a supporter of MSF and their courses, and I'll not apologize for it...their basic Riding and Street Skills RiderCourse is excellent for the beginning rider. The 8-hour Experienced RiderCourse is invaluable for any rider with at least one year's experience up to the roughest old-timer.

I would challenge any experience rider who thinks they are riding safely and skillfully without benefit of formal training: sign up for the experienced rider course and put your money where your mouth is. I'll bet that you will NOT be able to adequately perform their drills the first time.

And that's what a crash is: the first time.

100 MPH Motorcyclists Arrested

In two unrelated incidents on the same day, an Oregon County Deputy arrested two motorcyclists for Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Violation of Basic Rule.

On the 24th of October, at about 2 pm, the deputy was driving an unmarked vehicle. He observed a motorcycle approach in the oncoming lane, performing a "wheelie", continuing past with the front tire in the air for at least 15 yards. The deputy turned around and followed the motorcyclist, which was traveling at speeds over 100 mph through residential areas and curves.

The deputy caught up to the motorcycle as it pulled into a residence and made contact with the driver. The 32-year old motorcyclist said he was test-driving the motorcycle, wanting to see what it would do. He was taken into custody on charges of Reckless Driving and Violation of Basic Rule (104 in a 55 mph zone) and transported to county jail.

At about 3:30 pm on the same day, the same deputy observed a group of four motorcycles traveling together. Approaching a stop sign, three of the cyclists stopped, but the fourth did not, accelerating in front of the deputy who had the right of way and was attempting a turn onto the highway, cutting him off.

The motorcyclist continued to accelerate and the deputy turned around and followed. The motorcyclist approached a stop sign, slowed to about 10 mph and went through the intersection without stopping. At this point the deputy stopped and activated his stationary radar which indicated the motorcycle was traveling at 108 mph.

The deputy caught up to the motorcycle, estimating its speed at about 110 mph, passing another vehicle in a series of blind curves, in a no-passing zone. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver of the motorcycle and his passenger (his wife). The motorcyclist said he had no idea how fast he was driving and was arrested for Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Violation of Basic rule (108 in a 55 mph zone).

Read full story here...

Lessons Learned

I have to restrain my fingers from typing the most scornful epithets I can muster for which to use in referring to these two motorcyclists. The ONLY justification I can present for their behavior and poor sense of judgement is that speed and power are drugs that can easily overcome a person.

But if cocaine and heroin are powerful drugs, why aren't all citizens druggies? What aren't all motorcyclists disregarding law and sensibility by reckless speeding? The obvious answer is that humans can control their appetites, and those who can't shouldn't be allowed the privileges enjoyed by those who can.

What am I saying? I believe these two speeders should PERMANENTLY lose any legal right to ride a motorcycle that is capable of more than 45 miles per hour.

Every motorcyclist should recognize that their machine has the capability of providing a drug-like rush that can overcome their better judgement. If you have to, look for a venue that will allow you to speed without endangering others...get into racing, find a completely isolated stretch of highway...do something other than speeding through a residential area or highway with other travelers.

Motorcyclists, more than any other recreational vehicle operator, are susceptible to the effects of public opinion. We will find our motorcycle rights become severely limited when the non-motorcycle public get fed up with juvenile, reckless, unthinking bikers who can't control their appetite for speed and thrill.

For the sake of all motorcyclists, choose the right time and place for speeding...it's definitely not in mid-day in a residential area or public highway with other traffic. Use your head!

Motorcops Injured by Head-on Crash

A pickup truck collided head-on with two parked Idaho State Motorcycle Patrol officers near Boise, Idaho, Thursday, October 22, 2009, at about 3:45 pm.

The motorcycle patrol officers were parked in the median of Interstate 84. The driver of a pickup left the highway and struck them head-on. News agencies are reporting that it may have been deliberate.



One officer was treated and released - the other remains in the hospital in serious condition.



No arrest has yet been made in the accident. The pickup driver, age between 20-30 years old, is being tested for presence of drugs or alcohol.

Read More...

Lessons Learned

Stopping in the median or shoulder of a highway cannot be considered safe. It's entirely legal, and necessary at times, but it is not safe, not even for experienced motorcyclists.

A strong case could be made for saying that parked on the side of the road is more dangerous than riding in traffic. A parked motorcycle has no evasive capability, and the riders are not paying much attention to the traffic. In this instance, that inattention was tragic.

What to do?

Don't park alongside a busy roadway unless absolutely necessary. If at all possible, find a cross street, an exit ramp, a rest stop. This is especially important towards the end of the day, when the sun is low in the horizon, making it hard to see, or if the light is fading for the evening.

If you must stop alongside the road, watch oncoming traffic like a hawk...don't turn your back completely on them, glance up often and stay on the side of your bike that is away from traffic.

This crash could have been deliberate, but even if it were an accident, or the result of the pickup's equipment failure, or if the driver suffered a heart attack, the result would be the same.

Parking in the median or shoulder of a busy roadway is dangerous!

---

Cager's U-Turn Injures Motorcyclist

Silverdale Man Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Wreck Near Shelton, Washington
October 17, 2009

A motorcyclist crashed into a car that was attempting a U-turn on a highway. The 52-year old motorcyclist was northbound on Highway 101, following a Kia Rio, at about 2 pm. The driver of the Rio attempted a U-turn, and the motorcycle hit the car. The motorcyclist was air-lifted to a Seattle hospital in serious condition. The 35-year old driver of the car was cited for failure to yield and treated for minor injuries.

Read more...

Lessons Learned

The citation makes it clear that the U-turn was made carelessly, possibly illegally. The motorcyclist did not have time to avoid a collsion when the driver of the car suddenly slowed for a U-turn, probably without signalling. The motorcyclist probably swerved to the left, only to collide with the car as it turned left into the path of the motorcycle.

Was the collision unavoidable? The only factor completely under the control of the motorcyclist in this situation is distance between him and the car he's following. At least two seconds of travel distance is recommended, and more is even better. Frequently check your buffer distance: begin counting the seconds when the car ahead of you passes some prominent mark or object near the road - perhaps a road sign or intersection. You speed should allow you at least two seconds before you pass that same mark. If it takes you less than two seconds to reach the mark, you're following too closely. Ease up on the speed briefly to increase your following distance and then re-check by counting seconds. Two-lane highways, narrow roads, or twisty roads require more than two seconds buffer space between you and the vehicle you're following.

Live to ride again: allow at least two seconds distance between you and the car ahead of you - expect the unexpected.

Serious Injury Traffic Crash in Klamath Falls

Friday, October 9, 2009

A motorcyclist was seriously injured when his motorcycle collided with a pickup.

The 41-year old motorcyclist was southbound on a highway. The 26-year old driver of the pickup drove out of a parking lot, heading northbound, turning into the path of the motorcycle, which crashed into the left side of the pickup.

The motorcyclist was transported for treatment of serious injuries. The pickup driver was not injured and was cited for Driving While Suspended and Reckless Driving.

Complete story here...

Lessons Learned

Sadly, this seems another of those instances when nothing would have prevented tragedy except responsible, mature and alert operation of a motor vehicle on the part of the driver of the pickup. This certainly appears to be a case of a stupid cager who shouldn't have been on the road.

If there is any lesson to be gained it is that motorcyclists must expect all cagers (drivers of automobiles) to be stupid, blind and reckless. The next time you're driving in traffic and you spot a car waiting to leave a parking lot in front of you, watch him like a hawk. Cover your brake, ready to stop quickly...watch his front tire for movement forward...change lanes if possible to gain more space between you and him.

Here's a possible tactic to consider: use another vehicle as a "blocking guard". When approaching an intersection or parking lot, change to the left lane of a multi-lane roadway. Pick a car that's ahead of you in the right lane and come up beside him before you enter the intersection or driveway. Make sure the driver of your "blocking guard" knows that you are there - don't ride in his blind spot. If a car runs the red light, or turns out of a parking lot without looking, at least you'll have a couple of tons of metal between you and him - the vehicle on your right will take the blow rather than you, as long as your "blocking guard" doesn't swerve into you. If you ride just a few feet ahead of your guard vehicle, even if he swerves he'll probably miss you.

Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 101

Less than eight hours ago a man lost control of his motorcycle and slid underneath a pickup traveling in the opposite direction. He died at the scene.

The 55-year old rider from Seattle, Washington was southbound on a 2007 Harley Davidson, entering a sharp right curve. He lost control and slid into the northbound lane, smashing under a 2000 Toyota pickup. The 62-year old driver of the pickup tried to steer right to avoid the collision, coming to a stop straddling the fog line on the northbound shoulder of the highway. He suffered minor injury.

The motorcyclist was wearing a protective helmet.

Lessons Learned

Middle of the afternoon, no mention of weather conditions, no mention of traffic or road conditions...we are left with only two reasonable causes for this crash:

Distraction

Speed

Something caused the rider to take his eyes off his line of travel. Or he was traveling too fast for the curve.

First, the issue of distraction.

Surrounded by scenery, especially that of our beautiful coastline, riding our wonderful, twisty Highway 101, it's oh-so-easy to take your eyes off the road. On a motorcycle, it only takes a brief moment to crash if you're not looking where you want to go.

A motorcycle goes where your head is pointed and our eyes are looking. It's that simple, or at least it should be that simple in the way we ride. If we emphasize the need to always turn our head and look in the direction we want to go, our balance and sense of speed combining with our lean will work.

It's different when operating a car. A four-wheeled vehicle is inherently stable...there is no wind in our face to distract us...a car does not lean into the curves...we can usually get by with just our peripheral vision.

We have no such luxuries on a motorcycle.

Next, the issue of speed.

The ONLY way to take a curve at high speed is to lean...lean WAY over...lean so far your peg scrapes and you expect it to scrape, so you're not surprised when it scrapes and you lean more and accelerate even more.

Is that how you want to take that curve?

If you are not willing to scrape your peg, then DON"T SPEED!

I'm sorry for the all-caps, but not too sorry. A motorcycle can take a curve safely at a much faster speed than any four-wheeled vehicle, but the trade-off is the need for lean. Most weekend riders do not have the skill, and the trust, to lean deeply into a curve...me included.

Unless you're willing to train daily on a track, taking high-speed curves, you must back off on the speed.

It's OK to roll on the throttle in the middle of the curve...in fact, it's a good practice. The increased acceleration seems to help anchor the bike as it comes out of the turn and returns to a vertical stance.

But entering a curve at high speed gives you no room to accelerate reasonably...you're already at the maximum speed for that curve and you haven't even started to lean. It's much easier to enter at a reasonable, even slow speed, roll on the throttle, leaning into the center of the curve, and continue to accelerate out of the curve.

How do you know how fast to enter a curve?

The best rule of thumb is the yellow warning signs that precede a curve. They are usually posted at a very safe, slow speed. Usually I'm able to add ten miles per hour faster to my speed and still have complete control entering the curve. But I wouldn't recommend exceeding that warning limit by more than 10 MPH.

Enter the curve at the recommended speed (10 MPH over is OK), and roll on the throttle, accelerating as you pass the deepest part of the curve and start to straighten out.

It's always possible to safely accelerate AFTER you've entered the curve...it's risky to try to de-celerate in the middle of a curve...it's deadly to enter a curve already going too fast.

Keep your eyes on the road and control your speed.

Double Fatal Traffic Crash

Friday, October 2, 2009

Two victims died when their motorcycle was struck by a sport utility vehicle (SUV) on Highway 97, north of Chiloquin.

The 63-year old driver of the SUV was northbound and attempted to pass a truck. Moving out to the left lane to pass, he crashed head-on into the southbound motorcycle. Both riders of the motorcycle were ejected and died at the scene.

The motorcycle operator was male, age 65...the passenger was male, age 49. Both were wearing helmets.

The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries...his passenger was transported by air ambulance with serious injuries.

Source: http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1002#news29912

Image: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2009-10/1002/100209.fatalx2.hwy97mp226.1.jpg

Lessons Learned

Unforeseen and unpreventable.

I've critiqued motorcycle-related accidents before in this blog, and I usually can point out at least one defensive riding tactic that relates to the incident...but not this time.

From the news article it seems clear that the motorcyclists were blameless. A two-lane highway provides separation between opposing vehicle traffic only by painted lines and driver skill and attention...it wasn't sufficient for these two motorcyclists.

The riders could be faultlessly alert and skillful, yet be killed by an inattentive or impaired driver who crosses the centerline directly in front of them.

So, no lesson to learn?

I take from this tragedy a reminder of two things:

One, we are not ultimately in complete control of our lives.

Two, ride with the expectation that the oncoming traffic is unstable:

crazy

inebriated

angry

distracted

unskilled

ignorant

careless

reckless, or

criminal.

Motorcycles by design and definition are unable to compete on equal grounds with all other traffic, except bicyclists and pedestrians. We can decide to never ride a motorcycle, or we can take all reasonable precautions and ride skillfully and defensively...

...and take our chances.

Fatal motorcycle crash in Georgia

WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia reported a fatal motorcycle crash occuring October 1, at about 5:30 PM, the second motorcycle fatality there this week, and the fifth in the last five months.

A 57-year-old man was riding southbound on Liberty Expressway. As he neared the intersection with Antioch Road, a driver of a pickup truck pulled out in front of the motorcyclist. The intense collision between truck and motorcycle was severe enough to break the truck's drive shaft.

The motorcyclist was alive, still wearing his helmet, when the ambulance arrived, but he died about 20 minutes later.

The driver of the pickup stated that he entered the intersection just after another vehicle had turned in front of him, blocking his view of any oncoming traffic.

Read the article: http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=11243364

Lessons Learned

Primary fault for the accident obviously goes to the driver of the pickup truck, but we must admit the motorcyclist neglected several essential defensive riding tactics.

Scan for potential hazards: look as far ahead as possible...identify hazards well before you get near them. The sequence of one car turning in front of a hidden second car, and the motorcyclist ramming into that second car, means the motorcyclist was not slowing for the first vehicle...he was counting on the road being clear after the first car made his turn...but it was not, and he didn't have time to avoid it.

Ride defensively...assume traffic is crazy and liable to act in unpredictable ways.

The fact that there had been at least one fatality every month for five months running probably meant little to the motorcyclist. Of all people, perhaps motorcyclists are most notorious for thinking "It'll never happen to me!"

Motorcycle Deaths Climb

By THE NEW YORK TIMES
September 30, 2009

Motor vehicle deaths dropped nearly 10 percent in 2008 compared with 2007, pushing down all transportation deaths, the National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday.

Highway fatalities, which dominate the toll, dropped to 37,261, from 41,259. But motorcycle deaths rose for the 11th year, to 5,290, and now account for one in seven motor vehicle deaths.

The report covers a year of record-high gasoline prices, and then recession, conditions that cut the number of miles traveled. But the rate of deaths per million miles also dropped sharply, by 7 percent, suggesting that driving got safer over all.

High gas prices may also have increased motorcycle miles. The number of miles traveled by motorcycles is uncertain, although the number of registrations is up. Many states have repealed helmet laws, which experts say has led to a higher death toll.

The highway death toll in 2008 was the lowest since 1961.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/us/30highway.html?_r=1

Lessons Learned

Motorcycle deaths: one in every seven fatal highway accidents.

Even accounting for high gas prices, the rate of automobile deaths per miles driven has dropped...driving cars has gotten safer while motorcycle deaths have climbed.

Motorcyclists have a right to operate their vehicle in the way they deem best, right? They have a right to ride without a helmet, without a jacket, without chaps, right? We have the right to exceed the speed limit by 10 mph, right? I don't think so.

Public opinion, formed by newspaper headlines and third-person experiences, may well erode our rights to the point where motorcycling will be regulated out of existence.

I can easily foresee taxes levied on motorcycle-related purchases "to pay for excessive accident rates". I can foresee sky-high insurance rates "for statistically risky behavior". I can foresee signs along our favorite twisty highways: "No Motorcycles Allowed".

We motorcyclists must begin to "police" ourselves before we are regulated out of existence by public opinion. This requires each of us to model exemplary motorcycling skills:

well-maintained equipment

adherance to traffic laws

defensive riding habits

community support and outreach.

Every motorcycle death and every motorcycle-related accident becomes evidence that motorcycles are only appropriate for extreme sports and daring risk-takers.

If we can lower our death and accident rate, we not only will return home after each ride to our families and friends, but we will be showing our community that motorcycling is a great recreational activity.

Man Suffers Injuries From Motorcycle Accident

A 38-year-old man was injured Monday night around 9:45 p.m. when an 18-year-old driver pulled his vehicle into the path of the motorcycle.

According to Rome City Police, the driver of the vehicle apparently stopped at the traffic light on Sherwood Road before making a right-hand turn onto Shorter Avenue without noticing the approaching motorcycle.

The motorcycle flipped and slid along the roadway for a long distance, causing the cycle’s engine to rupture.

A significant amount of oil spilled onto Shorter Avenue, warranting a call for the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department to clean the roadway of the oil.

The driver of the motorcycle was transported to Floyd Medical Center, where his condition remains unknown at this time.

http://www.romenewswire.com/index.php/2009/09/29/motorcycle-wreck-injures-man-on-shorter-avenue/

Lesson Learned

We can rant against oblivious cagers who cut us off or turn in front of us, but at the end of the day what good does ranting do? More effective than ranting is defensive riding.

I'm not at all blaming the rider in this tragedy for the accident...I'm just using the news as a reminder of what I want to do as a rider.

A car waiting at an intersection ahead of you should raise a red flag...What's he going to do? Watch his tires closely...it's easier to see movement in the tires before you can detect his vehicle starting forward.

I once spotted a driver start to edge his car into the intersection before I had passed...it startled me and I stopped before entering the intersection. He waved at me, signalling me to go on ahead, but I shook my head and just waited. After hesitation he proceeded, turning into my lane of traffic and left, shaking his head. I interpreted that as exasperation at me for being overly careful, but I'm glad I was.

Drivers tend to edge into the intersection early, anticipating the delay it will take them to get up to speed to enter the traffic flow. This makes sense, but it's also very hard to detect whether they are timing their entry or ignoring me! I like to ride on the defensive side, assuming that drivers are either out to get me or at the least, ignoring me.

Two Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

Highway 199, near Grants Pass, Oregon - 09/25/09

A 51 year old man died Friday afternoon after his motorcycle crashed on Highway 199 approximately 16 miles north of Grants Pass.

On September 25, 2009 at approximately 2:20 p.m., a 2005 Honda motorcycle operated by HARREL EUGENE NEAL, age 51 from Eagle Point, Oregon was traveling southbound on Highway 199 when it left the roadway. The motorcycle drove onto the shoulder of the highway striking a guardrail. NEAL was thrown from the motorcycle, which came to a rest in the highway.

An ambulance crew, which happened to be in the area, arrived on scene within minutes of the crash. NEAL, who had been wearing a helmet, died at the scene of the crash.

Highway 20 near Bend, Oregon - 09/25/09

On September 25, 2009 at approximately 12:30AM, a 2008 Ducati motorcycle operated by MICHAEL WILLIAM CLEARY, age 61, was driving eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 28. According to Sergeant Eric Brown of the Bend Area Command, as the motorcycle was eastbound it failed to negotiate a left hand curve and drove off onto the south shoulder of the roadway. The motorcycle struck a fog marker and CLEARY, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash.

The crash is still under investigation, but it appears speed may have been a contributing factor.

Lessons Learned

Two crashes, with similar situations, same day. What similarities can we observe? One might be the time of day. The crash on Highway 199 happened in mid-afternoon...the one on Highway 20 just after midnight. Sleepiness could have been a factor in both. As a new rider I did not expect to ever feel sleepy on a motorcycle...fresh air rushing past, the thrill of balance and speed, the tremendous views around me and the need for alertness...one would think it would be easy to stay awake.

I was wrong. It's incredibly easy to relax and enjoy the ride. A full stomach after lunch, or late at night, can be a set up for sleepiness on the road.

Both crashes had nothing to do with other traffic. A very common attitude among motorcyclists borders almost on scorn, even hate, for "cagers", operators of automobiles. Many riders assume the dangers of motorcycles is wholly from other traffic, especially the four-wheeled variety. But much of the blame, or responsibility lies with our own skills and alertness. I alone am responsible for choosing my path, and speed, through a curve. I alone am responsible for scanning for hazards and watching the road.

Both riders wore helmets. I am fervent about wearing a helmet. I will NEVER ride without one. But it's not magic, and I would be very hard put to say anti-helmet riders are wrong when they say that in some instances, a helmet can CAUSE more injury than if it were not worn. A crash is chaotic and wrenching...the physical forces of inertia and mass, inside and outside the body can be more than enough to overwhelm any protective gear I might be wearing.

The ONLY self-protection that can be relied upon consistently is my own alertness and skill. My choices for protection start even before I turn the key. Two of the absolute essentials that I check every day:

Tires: air pressure

Wheels: tap spokes lightly with wrench, looking for any that sound "dead" or broken

A more thorough inspection is often necessary. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation endorses a "T-CLOCK" inspection:



http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf

Four killed in three separate motorcycle crashes

Story Created: Sep 15, 2009 at 9:09 AM MDT
By KBCI Web Staff (http://www.2news.tv/news/local/59335897.html)

BOISE - Monday was a deadly day on Idaho roads and highways throughout the state for motorcyclists.

Four people were killed, including two from Boise, in three separate crashes.

The first crash, Idaho State Police says, occurred on Highway 55 near Banks. Police say Richard Schroeder, 63, of Halfway, Ore., was traveling southbound when he failed to negotiate a left curve and was ejected from his motorcycle. The man, who was wearing a helmet, ended up down a 30-foot embankment and into the Payette River.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities also responded to motorcycle crash near the Idaho, Oregon border. They say Eric Shink, 40, of Kennewick, Wash., was headed eastbound on Interstate 84 when he struck a guard rail and was ejected from his motorcycle.

Shink, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol and speed are believed to have been factors in the crash.

The third crash, Idaho State Police says, occurred about 18 miles from Stanley on Highway 75. Officials say an Idaho Transportation Department employee was doing routine maintenance on the highway when he saw two people and a motorcycle on the bank of the Salmon River.

Authorities say Ronald and Sharon Weber, of Boise were riding a motorcycle when for unknown reasons, they drifted off the right shoulder and down a 90-foot embankment. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Lessons Learned

Motorcycles are inherently dangerous.

I know that's a controversial over-simplification, especially coming from an enthusiastic motorcyclist, but it's a fact we have to face. A motorcyclist simply cannot make a mistake.

Automobiles allow a generous leeway for mistakes. The operator is surrounded by steel and buffered with restraints and air pillows.

A motorcyclist is surrounded by environment and free of any restraints.

The motorcyclists who were ejected from his motorcycle would not have gained any protection if they had managed to stay astride their rides...being ejected from a motorcycle means little during a crash. Wearing a helmet does little good when the wearer ends up at the bottom of a 30-foot embankment and into a river.

What mistakes were made?

Failure to negotiate a curve means excessive speed and inattention.

Striking a guard rail means excessive speed and inattention...probably due to alcohol in this instance.

It's more difficult to identify a cause for the couple who drifted off the road and down an embankment. Riding two up requires extra attention...center of balance changes make steering more difficult. Falling asleep is a real danger on big bikes...they are so much more comfortable and smooth running. The operator may have experienced a medical emergency...heart attack? It could have been as innocent as spying a deer on the side of the road, causing a distraction, allowing the bike to drift onto the shoulder of the road, and riding two up could make it difficult to correct.

Riding a motorcycle requires a commitment to skill and attention, far more than that required to operate an automobile.

Ten Injured, Two Critically, in Multi-Motorcycle Crash

Ten Injured, Two Critically, in Multi-Motorcycle Crash - Interstate 5 south of Wilsonville - 09/19/09



Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Friday afternoon's multi-vehicle traffic crash south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5. Ten motorcyclists traveling together as part of the Brothers Speed Motorcycle Club were injured, two critically. Names of three other injured motorcycle operators are available with this release.

On September 18, 2009 at approximately 2:45 p.m. approximately 26 motorcycles were traveling northbound in the left inside lane near milepost 282 in a formation of two columns when traffic ahead began to come to a stop. The first two motorcycles maneuvered to avoid a collision with a 2005 Toyota 4Runner but the rest of the motorcycles could not react in time and crashed into the sport utility vehicle and into each other. A second vehicle, a 2004 Nissan Pathfinder sport utility vehicle in the center lane was also struck by one of the motorcycles attempting to avoid the collisions.

Medical responders arrived and subsequently transported eight motorcyclists by ground ambulance. Two others identified as HERBERT SINCLAIR, age 48, from Heyburn, Idaho and DAVID BOWYER, age 44, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho were transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively.

Both men are reported in critical condition.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

Lesson Learned

Group Riding: Allow at least two seconds of distance between you and the rider directly in front of you.

A common group riding formation is in a staggered two-column.




http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Group_Ride.pdf

One problem with riding in a group is a tendency to relax your guard, paying close attention only to the rider directly in front of you. Being in a group can give you a false sense of security, taking away much of the stress of staying alert and reading traffic for potential hazards.

It's possible that the riders in this large group were relying upon the two lead riders to watch for traffic. The article doesn't cite any speeds---I-5 is a very busy freeway, so perhaps 40 miles per hour would be a good guess---2:45 PM is not rush hour---at 40 miles per hour, reaction time plus braking time is about 4.4 seconds, taking about 216 feet. (Motorcycle RiderCourse, Riding and Street Skills, Student Workbook)

The lead riders successfully braked or swerved to avoid a collision with the sudden traffic stop, but the following riders would have had even less time to recognize the hazard.

What to do? One vague, general rule of group riding is "Ride your own ride." To me, it means to stay alert, scan for hazards, even while riding in a group. The lead rider is usually an experienced motorcyclist, responsible for looking out for the entire group, but each individual rider must remain alert and defensive.

Motorcycle Operator Dies from Injuries Sustained

Update: Motorcycle Operator Dies from Injuries Sustained in Monday Crash - Belt Line Road north of Eugene (Photos) - 09/16/09



A Springfield-area motorcyclist seriously injured Monday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed on Belt Line Road north of Eugene died early Wednesday morning at an area hospital.

TIMOTHY RUSSELL TULL, age 21, from Springfield was operating a 1997 Yamaha motorcycle September 14, 2009 at approximately 4:10 p.m. eastbound on Belt Line Road near milepost 6. As TULL approached a disabled car on the inside shoulder partially blocking the left lane, he reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and laid it down on the pavement.

During the crash, TULL's protective helmet came off his head and he suffered serious head injuries. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend where he died September 16th about 2:30 a.m.

OSP troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Speed may have been a contributing factor in this crash. Eugene Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police
http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1002#news29443

Lesson Learned

Target Fixation: keep eyes on the road ahead...you go where your eyes are looking.

Protective Gear: Unsecured helmet? Several times I've traveled more than a block down the road and suddenly realized I'd forgotten to connect my chin straps. Perhaps the rider was wearing an old, or borrowed helmet, or one of the wrong size.

Speed: may have been a factor. Speeding reduces the time you have to make corrections or identify hazards.

State Police Video Catches Motorcycle Crash

An Oregon State Police (OSP) in-car video of an incident that happened June 18, 2009, is being released after a motorcycle operator pled guilty to Careless Driving when he lost control and separated from his motorcycle. The in-car video caught the sliding motorcycle and rolling operator as both passed the trooper's stopped patrol car along Interstate 84 in The Dalles.



http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2009-07/061809.i84mp85.mtc.crash.wmv

(Note: audio is unavailable for first 30 seconds of video. At about six seconds into the video, the motorcycle slides into view from the far left of the frame.)

On June 18, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. OSP Senior Trooper Michael Holloran was sitting in his stopped OSP patrol car on the right eastbound shoulder of Interstate 84 near milepost 85 writing information in his notebook. With the patrol car's radar unit on, Holloran heard an approaching fast vehicle and began to look in the side mirror when he saw a motorcycle lose control. The motorcycle dropped onto its side and the operator went down onto the pavement as the radar unit obtained a speed of 85 mph.

The sliding motorcycle and rolling operator both went past the stationary patrol car and surprised trooper. Shortly after the motorcycle's operator, KENNETH CARL THEIMAN JR., age 31, from Dallesport, Washington, stopped rolling, Holloran got out of the patrol car and ran up to help THEIMAN as he was picking himself up off the pavement.

THEIMAN told Holloran that he was surprised how quickly things happened when he lost control of the motorcycle. THEIMAN thought his speed was about 85 mph when he lost control.

THEIMAN was transported by ambulance to Mid-Columbia Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, mostly abrasions. He was wearing a protective helmet.

Holloran cited THEIMAN for Careless Driving and he pled guilty in Wasco County Circuit Court.

Sources:http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/NEWSRL/news/07_15_2009_video_mtc_crash_i84_mp85.shtmlhttp://www.komonews.com/news/local/50858032.html

Lesson Learned

The motorcyclist says that he looked up just before the crash, implying that he wasn't scanning the road ahead. He probably jerked his arms in surprise and panic, throwing him off-balance.

What can help?
Scan: search aggressively for potential hazards (parked policeman?)

Target fixation: the machine will go where your eyes are focused. Scan and identify a hazard, but put your focus on your intended path.
Protective gear: the rider rolled at least three times in the video...probably at least that many times before he entered the view of the camera. He ended up conscious, alert and basically unhurt, with helmet still secure, after a crash at about 85 miles per hour.

How much skin are you willing to lose? Boots, gloves and jacket saved this fellow's skin and presumeably good looks, and the helmet protected his presumeably intelligent brain.

Speed: posted speed limit in this incident was 65 miles per hour. If you're going to violate the speed limit, at least be extra observant and alert. If you'd rather relax and enjoy the ride, stick to the speed limit.