The sound of motorcycles thundering down the highway is once again being heard across the fields and roadways this spring.
The image is most welcomed by the free spirit in all of us as the days turn long and temperatures increase.
Before we wheel out on the roads for that first 'putt' let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the simplest precautions we need to take for our own safety and for our passengers too.
Motorcycle fatalities are anticipated to be down by at least ten per cent ( 10 %) for the year 2009 by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Hopefully this is the beginning of a much longer trend.
The riders & their passengers need all the personal protection they can live with and still enjoy their passion, riding.
You still should have protection between yourself and the road.
As most motorcyclists are only too aware the statistics bear out their vulnerability to the passenger vehicles on the roads.
Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
* So the old one liner that, ' I had the right of way' being placed on your headstone has justification.
Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
* Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
* Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.
* Don't Drink & Ride! Leave your buzz until the days riding is finished! The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury.
The use of heavy boots, jacket, gloves, etc.
, is effective in preventing or reducing abrasions and lacerations, which are frequent but rarely severe injuries.
* The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
* So take caution while operating your two wheeled vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter and have an enjoyable safe ride! footnotes: *, references to select excerpts from the 'Hurt Report'.
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1.
The image is most welcomed by the free spirit in all of us as the days turn long and temperatures increase.
Before we wheel out on the roads for that first 'putt' let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the simplest precautions we need to take for our own safety and for our passengers too.
Motorcycle fatalities are anticipated to be down by at least ten per cent ( 10 %) for the year 2009 by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Hopefully this is the beginning of a much longer trend.
The riders & their passengers need all the personal protection they can live with and still enjoy their passion, riding.
You still should have protection between yourself and the road.
As most motorcyclists are only too aware the statistics bear out their vulnerability to the passenger vehicles on the roads.
Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
* So the old one liner that, ' I had the right of way' being placed on your headstone has justification.
Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
* Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
* Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.
* Don't Drink & Ride! Leave your buzz until the days riding is finished! The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury.
The use of heavy boots, jacket, gloves, etc.
, is effective in preventing or reducing abrasions and lacerations, which are frequent but rarely severe injuries.
* The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
* So take caution while operating your two wheeled vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter and have an enjoyable safe ride! footnotes: *, references to select excerpts from the 'Hurt Report'.
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1.