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The question...... (How to decrease motorcycle fatalities)
- Thread starter Rel
- Start date
gixxerjoeca
New member
I think that if you're going to buy a motorcycle for whatever reason, have an M1. I would think that the track, of all places, would want someone with an M1. If you're a collector, so what, get your M1 and never ride.
gixxerjoeca
New member
- Joined
- May 4, 2005
- Location
- Orinda, CA
- Moto(s)
- A funky red & white Italian named Gianni Cervo! Versys - two of 'em! And a Ducati for laughs.
- BARF perks
- AMA #: 281672
Make them non-op. It won't stop everyone, but it would make it a pain in the ass, and might stop the noobie, unlicensed rider.
FWIW, I'm guessing that most 16 year olds who are doing trackdays are also capable of getting an M1. It seems like the benefit is to obstruct the truly clueless.
Blind_Io
Exiled North of The Wall
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2007
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- The Land of Ice and Snow
- Moto(s)
- '00 VFR, '07 ST1300, '11 Multistrada 1200
- Name
- Dave
First of all we need to see where exactly riders are going down and how. Each of these situations will require a different approach.
Single-Rider Accidents: In this case the rider goes down because of his own actions.
For this type of accident we need to focus on the rider. Education about gear and even what motorcycle to buy will help, but so will continuing education for advanced riding techniques. Reaching riders early is vital.
- Stunting:
I know that many riders enjoy stunting and showing off - why not create a weekly stunt clinic, a place for riders to show off their skills and practice in a contained, traffic-free environment. Industrial areas are a possibility, but any such event should be done with the consent of any property owners and local LEOs. Hell, get the LEOs involved as participants - invite the motor officers out to show off their skills and challenge stunters to slow races and bike handling, this would also help the wheelie crowd learn new (potentially life-saving) skills. Ask for the LEOs to advise riders about possible equipment violations without giving fix-it tickets. (If you get pulled over, however, you are on your own.)
- Rider training
Not all of us have the means to do track-days. Doc Wong is doing some great work with his rider clinics, but I think we can do more. What about a mentor program? Create a partnership with MSF and other training courses so new riders can be paired up with more experienced riders for guidance. The weekly BARF meets would be ideal places for mentors and their Padawans to meet up. (ok, sorry for geeking out there, I'm better now).
By far the biggest concern for me is not downing my own bike because of a mistake, but getting hit by another vehicle. In 80% of all car v bike collisions, the car is at fault. To me, this means that riders are generally riding safely on the road and the main concern lies with cagers. I think it's time to raise awareness of motorcycle safety for all road users, not just riders.
- Visibility and public awareness.
I propose a campaign to raise public awareness of riders. The use of the variable-message signs a few days a month would go a long way. It might also be worthwhile to see about getting some space at car-oriented events, like the SF Auto Show (although I'm sure it's too late this year). We could also look into a PSA on local radio stations during the commute, or ask DJs to mention something about motorcycle safety.
As anyone who reads the paper knows, a good chunk of "news" is just a copy-and-paste from press releases. There are plenty of public reaction quotes in articles expressing the frustration of drivers regarding riders - the papers tend to publish some of the more inflammatory remarks which tend to stir up more negative reactions. We simply must break this cycle. I know we have a fair number of articulate members, we could draft some of our own press releases and send them into local papers and news stations. We should also invite local news stations out to events to promote our message of safety awareness.
Single-Rider Accidents: In this case the rider goes down because of his own actions.
For this type of accident we need to focus on the rider. Education about gear and even what motorcycle to buy will help, but so will continuing education for advanced riding techniques. Reaching riders early is vital.
- Stunting:
I know that many riders enjoy stunting and showing off - why not create a weekly stunt clinic, a place for riders to show off their skills and practice in a contained, traffic-free environment. Industrial areas are a possibility, but any such event should be done with the consent of any property owners and local LEOs. Hell, get the LEOs involved as participants - invite the motor officers out to show off their skills and challenge stunters to slow races and bike handling, this would also help the wheelie crowd learn new (potentially life-saving) skills. Ask for the LEOs to advise riders about possible equipment violations without giving fix-it tickets. (If you get pulled over, however, you are on your own.)
- Rider training
Not all of us have the means to do track-days. Doc Wong is doing some great work with his rider clinics, but I think we can do more. What about a mentor program? Create a partnership with MSF and other training courses so new riders can be paired up with more experienced riders for guidance. The weekly BARF meets would be ideal places for mentors and their Padawans to meet up. (ok, sorry for geeking out there, I'm better now).
By far the biggest concern for me is not downing my own bike because of a mistake, but getting hit by another vehicle. In 80% of all car v bike collisions, the car is at fault. To me, this means that riders are generally riding safely on the road and the main concern lies with cagers. I think it's time to raise awareness of motorcycle safety for all road users, not just riders.
- Visibility and public awareness.
I propose a campaign to raise public awareness of riders. The use of the variable-message signs a few days a month would go a long way. It might also be worthwhile to see about getting some space at car-oriented events, like the SF Auto Show (although I'm sure it's too late this year). We could also look into a PSA on local radio stations during the commute, or ask DJs to mention something about motorcycle safety.
As anyone who reads the paper knows, a good chunk of "news" is just a copy-and-paste from press releases. There are plenty of public reaction quotes in articles expressing the frustration of drivers regarding riders - the papers tend to publish some of the more inflammatory remarks which tend to stir up more negative reactions. We simply must break this cycle. I know we have a fair number of articulate members, we could draft some of our own press releases and send them into local papers and news stations. We should also invite local news stations out to events to promote our message of safety awareness.
brichter
Spun out freakshow
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- Jul 17, 2004
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- On the bleeding edge
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- ID Thief!
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Glad we're on the same page. This guy is why I'd like to see it spelled out (originally a rant I didn't post in another thread):
My favorite is the guy on 880S usually at 5:15pm on the Gixxer 6 who comes flying up behind stopped traffic and instead of sharing lanes in the hole that is plenty big enough for him to fit through, he revs the piss out of his bike (with stock exhaust, I might add) until one or both drivers move over enough to give him 5 feet of clearance on each side.
I usually wind up cruising past at my 10 mph delta and hit the same gap he can't seem fit through, then he'll buzz me at 90 mph or so down by Hamilton after traffic opens up at 280 and he finally catches up to me.
I haven't seen him since the first rain.Think he pisses off the car drivers much with that behavior?
Grease_Monkey
Sloshie Joshie
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- Oct 31, 2007
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Requiring an M1 for bike purchase is a good idea in theory, but has its flaws. One is due to the fact a purchaser can go to a private seller and get a bike. Two what if some who doesn't ride, doesnt have an M1 and wants to buy a bike for some one who does. Say a wife, father, daughter or son.
I have to admit, reading all 18 pages would have been pretty painful, but i managed to read most of them and skimmed through the rest. There are a lot of great ideas that I saw that were mentioned, like tiered licensing and requiring an M1 for purchase at dealerships.
I think we could also consider requiring an M1 upon registration of a bike instead of upon purchase, so that collectors are not required to have an M1, but the main safety here should be stricter dealerships (but they'll never sacrifice profits for safety.....) If a kid walks in that looks like they are fresh out of MSF, the dealer shouldn't try to promote the latest and greatest supersport.
I definitely agree with the importance of education in preventing fatalities. Most cagers that I've talked to never even consider the fact that a motorcycle could be right next to them when they switch lanes without a simple head check or a mirror check. Also, no one knows that splitting is actually legal. We need to get some sort of movement started to integrate basic knowledge about motorcycles into the drivers ed classes that people go through. Another good idea, if we can raise the money for it somehow, is to get commercials up on tv just getting the idea out there that motorcycles are out among cagers. A basic idea would be something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xiVx3xrctg I still can't believe there is nothing like that that is widespread in ca, considering how many riders we have.
I think we could also consider requiring an M1 upon registration of a bike instead of upon purchase, so that collectors are not required to have an M1, but the main safety here should be stricter dealerships (but they'll never sacrifice profits for safety.....) If a kid walks in that looks like they are fresh out of MSF, the dealer shouldn't try to promote the latest and greatest supersport.
I definitely agree with the importance of education in preventing fatalities. Most cagers that I've talked to never even consider the fact that a motorcycle could be right next to them when they switch lanes without a simple head check or a mirror check. Also, no one knows that splitting is actually legal. We need to get some sort of movement started to integrate basic knowledge about motorcycles into the drivers ed classes that people go through. Another good idea, if we can raise the money for it somehow, is to get commercials up on tv just getting the idea out there that motorcycles are out among cagers. A basic idea would be something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xiVx3xrctg I still can't believe there is nothing like that that is widespread in ca, considering how many riders we have.