Jan 31 2008
Motorcycle Deaths Up – More FUD From The Media
It does seem like you read about more and more murder and mayhem on the highway these days. Every time a motorcycle is involved you will invariably read a remark about the rider wearing helmet, or not. Personally I believe let the rider decide. If the accident is in the parking lot might at low speed then the helmet might help. But on the Interstate at 70 or 80 miles an hour it isn’t going to do much good. Upper body trauma is the major cause of death on the highway.
Here in Florida we’ve experienced a surge in motorcycle sales and accidents. Duh, more bikes on the road, more bikes in accidents. That makes sense to me. Especially when you consider all the inattentive people driving their cages while talking on the cell phone and eating an Egg McMuffin as they tune their radios.
People who have motorcycle accidents in Florida are six times more likely to die than automobile drivers.
The number of registered motorcyclists statewide was 582,740 in 2006, compared with 339,488 in 2002.
The number of fatalities also is rising steadily.
In 2002, 274 people died in motorcycle crashes; by 2006, the number was 521, according to the most recent statistics from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. (Source: St Petersburg Times)
The media is trying to say that the dramatic increase in motorcyclist is because of the rising gas prices. But then if you look at their own statistics you see that there is a flaw in their reasoning. The increase in motorcycle ownership began before the gas crisis. But, then I believe there is some truth in it also. I know myself that I have several neighbors who bought motorscooters over the past year because they do get in excess of 100 MPG.
“You can come here and pay $3,600 for a new bike,” Bott said. “And you don’t have to have insurance in the state of Florida to ride a motorcycle.”
Along with the no helmet law, Florida is one of few states where insurance is not required to register a motorcycle. That changes when a rider is charged after a crash with injuries. The rider is financially responsible for bodily injuries and property damages to others.
Now I’m one of those live and let give guys. But I think that anyone who rides a motorcycle and doesn’t have insurance is a moron. After all, what if you are riding a $20,000 bike instead of a “$3,600″ bike. To take a chance on these roads with the crazy cagers we have without insurance is just plain stupid.
It interesting to note that most of these fatal accidents are among those younger riders new to the road and motorcycling. It is a shame that so many of them end up as hood ornaments before they have the opportunity to fully appreciate the riding life. They just start out on machines that are too fast and too powerful for novice riders.
