DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
As the Texas weather gets warmer, everyone will start seeing more motorcycles on the road.
I know what you're thinking: this is going to be another motorcycle safety article we see every year. So some of you may think, "Since I don't ride a motorcycle this doesn't apply to me and I'm not going to read it." I hope you change your mind and read along because it's this misconception that directly impact the thousands of motorcycle rider deaths that occur in the U.S. annually. I ask you to read this article because I think I have the majority of us all covered in one of these three categories.
Category one: I drive a car, truck or some other two or four wheeled transportation, so motorcycle safety is not my concern -- wrong! Fact from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: When motorcycles and other vehicles collide, it is usually the other (non-motorcycle) driver who violates the motorcyclist's right-of-way. More than 78 percent of motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles are a direct result of and the fault of a vehicle pulling out in front of or beside the motorcycle.
That's really hard to believe since motorcycles are required to have their headlight turned on day and night, and this is where you would expect other vehicle operators to be able to see the motorcycle at its best. The next excuse after the vehicle pulls out in front of a motorcycle is, "I didn't see the motorcycle, when the real question should be, "How long did you really look?" A short, quick glance in all traffic directions just isn't enough to ensure all lanes are clear before entering traffic.
We must emphasize motorcycle awareness (through annual safety training) to everyone who drives on the road -- by everyone, I mean drivers of motorcycles, cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, etc. This is one key part in reducing motorcycle accidents, fatalities and injuries. Here in the Big Country, especially during warmer weather, we must all try to remember that there is a large number of motorcycles on the road.
Category Two: I consider myself an experienced motorcycle rider so I know all about motorcycle safety so this is a waste of my time -- think again! A buddy of mine who has been riding for about five years thinks he is an experienced motorcycle rider and also believes he's Evil Knievil. He rides his motorcycle mostly when the weather is good and averages 5,000 miles a year. He may do a couple of rides of more than 250 miles a year, but most of the time he travels the roads near where he lives. Is he really experienced? Not even close. Becoming an experienced motorcycle rider takes time riding in all types of terrain, weather conditions, road conditions, and in all types of traffic situations.
Here's some interesting information: In 1997, 2,116 motorcycle riders were killed in the U.S. and in 2005, 4,553 motorcycle riders were killed in the U.S. That's a noticeable increase. Motorcycle registrations in 1997 were about 3.82 million and have increased to 5.85 million as of 2005. The motorcycle registration trend is still rising and is expected to continue to rise.
Ironically, the over-50-year-old category has the biggest increase in motorcycle fatalities. This can be attributed to a time in these people's lives where their children may be grown up, they are making a good salary, and it is the best opportunity to make a motorcycle purchase. Conversely, it is also a time where their reaction time is not what is was when they were younger.
My personal observation is the truly experienced motorcycle rider really makes up a small portion of those motorcycle riders you see on the road--gaining the right level of operating experience takes much longer on a motorcycle than it would in a car. So, if you think you're experienced, take another motorcycle safety course. From personal experience, about three years ago, in an effort to support some new riders from my unit who were taking their first motorcycle safety course (notice I didn't say young riders because some of these new riders were over 40 years old), I decided to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Course as a "refresher" opportunity. At the time, I'd been riding motorcycles for almost 35 years and I felt the course would be a breeze. I was wrong! It seems over time I had developed some "bad habits" which the instructors were more than happy to correct. It made me realize I can never take my motorcycle riding lightly - it requires continuous practice and education.
Category Three: I've taken the required motorcycle training, I wear a helmet, I wear all the protective gear, I'm young, nothing will happen to me, and I've done all the motorcycle safety stuff I need to do. Not surprisingly, 30 years old and younger is the second-largest age group of motorcycle rider fatalities.
Motorcycles are the most dangerous type of motor vehicle to drive. Think about it: you need both hands and feet to operate a motorcycle, sometimes all at the same time, and on top of that you have to remain aware of traffic conditions around you. A motorcycle rider's exposure to hazards is greatly increased considering the motorcycle rider's protection, at best, consists of a leather jacket, leather chaps, boots, helmet and eye protection -- not like passengers in a car who are surrounded by a significant amount of metal and material, which provides some buffer in case of an accident. Motorcycles are involved in fatal crashes at a rate of 35 per 100 million miles of travel, compared with a rate of 1.7 per 100 million miles of travel for passenger cars.
Lack of experience is also huge factor for that age group. Not only are young motorcycle riders inexperienced in motorcycle riding, they are also inexperienced in every day driving situations. They may be able to "get away" with certain things or avoid a bad situation or accident, but eventually the lack of experience will catch up to them and the consequences won't be very pleasant.
New riders must ease into their riding environment by learning to ride in conditions that meet their experience levels. For example, you wouldn't let your newly licensed teenager drive their car across country with only one month of experience, would you? Over time, new and young motorcycle riders should slowly expand their riding environment to where they feel comfortable. New or young riders should never feel pressured to ride with others or by themselves outside their experience level. Eventually, you will begin to gain more experience and confidence in your motorcycle riding skills, environment, and conditions. Some other information about new or young motorcycle riders:
- One of four motorcycle rider deaths in 2005 did not have a motorcycle license
- 41 percent of all single motorcycle deaths in 2005 were drunk driving
This data makes it clear--get the training, get the proper motorcycle license, and do not under any circumstances drink alcohol and try to operate a motorcycle.
I've been riding motorcycles for 38 years now. I learned from my mistakes and I hope you can learn a few things from what I have written today. We all share in the effort to reduce motorcycle fatalities thru awareness, education, and experience.
(Note: see Community Notes for information about the upcoming Motorcycle Rodeo May 11.)