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Spyder wreck in Central Ohio Monday

A real tragedy. I feel badly for their family and friends. Who knows what happened. The Spyder is "safer" than a motorcycle. But you can still lose control of one in a turn. I hope it wasn't just inexperience that contributed to this. Always drive within your skill level people. Ride your own ride whether in a group ride or being tailed by some jerk in a car. Never go faster than you feel comfortable controlling the vehicle!!!

The picture of that Spyder is sobering.
 
A real tragedy. I feel badly for their family and friends. Who knows what happened. The Spyder is "safer" than a motorcycle. But you can still lose control of one in a turn. I hope it wasn't just inexperience that contributed to this. Always drive within your skill level people. Ride your own ride whether in a group ride or being tailed by some jerk in a car. Never go faster than you feel comfortable controlling the vehicle!!!

The picture of that Spyder is sobering.
I totally agree...Many drivers are doing this for the first time and when they hit winds of 40-50 mph...a sharp curve or whatever...My point is that new riders should be provided a course to take in conjunction with getting thier licenses..This is all a new market for BRP...the boomers...we don't want to give up...we want to ride a Spyder...until something better comes out...but I doubt that's gonna happen ij the near future...:)
 
Cant find much to say about this. MAY GOD BE WITH THEM AND THERE FAMILY IN NEED OF COMFORT.:pray:
 
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They were enjoying life , out riding their spyder !

So sorry to hear , a prayer out to them and their family :pray:
 
I totally agree...Many drivers are doing this for the first time and when they hit winds of 40-50 mph...a sharp curve or whatever...My point is that new riders should be provided a course to take in conjunction with getting thier licenses..This is all a new market for BRP...the boomers...we don't want to give up...we want to ride a Spyder...until something better comes out...but I doubt that's gonna happen ij the near future...:)

It's not up to BRP or any other manufacturer to provide training courses, BRP does provide some reaining in the owners manual. There are courses available for new riders. The MSF being the main one. We've been trying to get a trike course here, it's in the works. But, sometimes things happen and until a cause is found for this accident all we can do is wait and offer our condolences to the family.
 
A terrible tragedy, 65 & 66 yrs. old, probly a retired couple out for a nice Spyder ride together.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family. :pray:
 
Promise Never to Mention Helmets Again.... (until the next time)

I formerly worked with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (which is the parent government organization for the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles). Also included in this state agency are all of the traffic safety programs including those for motorcycle operators (Click HERE for link)

Whenever the Ohio Highway Patrol investigates an accident and they talk to reporters -- they are instructed to ask the reporter to state the status of the operator when the accident occurred, i.e. they were wearing helmets or they were not wearing helmets at the end of the story.

While this story ended "Neither was wearing a helmet at the time of crash" you will also see "Both were wearing a helmet at the time of crash" or some variation (driver was, passenger wasn't, etc.) depending on the circumstances of the crash (assuming the reporter is thorough).

Here is a news report on another Ohio motorcycle death where the operator was wearing a helmet CLICK HERE

They have a similar policy regarding reporting seat belt usage if the vehicle is a car.

Generally, the Patrol will just state the facts and let the reading public draw their own conclusions. For example, I don't think you will ever see the Patrol say the driver would have survived if they were wearing a helmet. They will say things like helmets "are an important safety tool." When it comes to seat belts, they will say IT'S THE LAW so everyone needs to be wearing them, etc. regardless of the outcome of the crash (live or die).

spyder_motorcycle_death.png


Local TV news report VIDEO HERE
 
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I formerly worked with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (which is the parent government organization for the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles). Also included in this state agency are all of the traffic safety programs including those for motorcycle operators (Click HERE for link)

Whenever the Ohio Highway Patrol investigates an accident and they talk to reporters -- they are instructed to ask the reporter to state the status of the operator when the accident occurred, i.e. they were wearing helmets or they were not wearing helmets at the end of the story.

While this story ended "Neither was wearing a helmet at the time of crash" you will also see "Both were wearing a helmet at the time of crash" or some variation (driver was, passenger wasn't, etc.) depending on the circumstances of the crash (assuming the reporter is thorough).

Here is a news report on another Ohio motorcycle death where the operator was wearing a helmet CLICK HERE

They have a similar policy regarding reporting seat belt usage if the vehicle is a car.

Generally, the Patrol will just state the facts and let the reading public draw their own conclusions. For example, I don't think you will ever see the Patrol say the driver would have survived if they were wearing a helmet. They will say things like helmets "are an important safety tool." When it comes to seat belts, they will say IT'S THE LAW so everyone needs to be wearing them, etc. regardless of the outcome of the crash (live or die).

spyder_motorcycle_death.png


Local TV news report VIDEO HERE
Janet was a friend of mine and rode with one club I belonged to. She belonged to several. I guessing a hundred and fifty motorcycles of all brands or more were in the procession last Saturday. One of her things was, it does not matter what you ride, but if you ride.
RIP Janet.
Oldmanzues
 
Janet was a friend of mine and rode with one club I belonged to. She belonged to several. I guessing a hundred and fifty motorcycles of all brands or more were in the procession last Saturday. One of her things was, it does not matter what you ride, but if you ride.
RIP Janet.
Oldmanzues

To those readers not familiar with the person being spoken about, this was not the rider of the Spyder, but the rider mentioned in the other attached news article. Janet was wearing her helmet, but unfortunately did not survive the accident.
 
I formerly worked with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (which is the parent government organization for the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles). Also included in this state agency are all of the traffic safety programs including those for motorcycle operators (Click HERE for link)

Whenever the Ohio Highway Patrol investigates an accident and they talk to reporters -- they are instructed to ask the reporter to state the status of the operator when the accident occurred, i.e. they were wearing helmets or they were not wearing helmets at the end of the story.

While this story ended "Neither was wearing a helmet at the time of crash" you will also see "Both were wearing a helmet at the time of crash" or some variation (driver was, passenger wasn't, etc.) depending on the circumstances of the crash (assuming the reporter is thorough).

Here is a news report on another Ohio motorcycle death where the operator was wearing a helmet CLICK HERE

They have a similar policy regarding reporting seat belt usage if the vehicle is a car.

Generally, the Patrol will just state the facts and let the reading public draw their own conclusions. For example, I don't think you will ever see the Patrol say the driver would have survived if they were wearing a helmet. They will say things like helmets "are an important safety tool." When it comes to seat belts, they will say IT'S THE LAW so everyone needs to be wearing them, etc. regardless of the outcome of the crash (live or die).

Local TV news report VIDEO HERE

I was a little enraged by the video coverage. The melodramatic talking head on site made a big deal of the helmet situation making it sound like it was the riders fault they died for not wearing helmets. This has not been established by the investigative troopers. The bike was so mangled that I don't think helmets COULD have saved them. (The bike rolled multiple times over an embankment off the road edge.)

The text in the article said: "Troopers say helmets are an important tool to protect the lives of motorcycle riders, but many Ohioans neglect to wear them." I don't know that riders NEGLECT to wear them, but CHOOSE NOT to, in accordance with the law. The report could have also been stated "troopers stated that while the Pugh's were not wearing motorcycle helmets, it is uncertain that that could have saved their lives."

The text also stated: "Gary and Ethel Pugh died Monday after crashing their 2012 Can Am Spyder in Fairfield County.' Again, it's assuming THEY crashed the cycle, placing the blame at their feet again. Possible, but it could have been stated as "when their 3 wheeled Can-Am crashed" (not 4 wheeled as stated in the video).

"It is not yet known if alcohol was a factor in the accident." It's also true to say that "it is not known if solar flares were a factor." I get that alcohol is often a factor in road fatalities, but the way it is stated implies they could have been drinking. It was 5pm on a Monday.

They were so busy trying to blame them that the possibilities of avoiding an animal or a child didn't come up. Could have been a flat tire. Could have been a solar flare.

Instead of sensationalizing the story and trying to blame them, Why not focus on how two people celebrated their way through full lives, enjoying it to the max, and having fun. The interview with their daughter clearly showed their love of life, fun and each other, but the news tried to focus on the blame with innuendo, incomplete facts and partial truths.
 
I was a little enraged by the video coverage. The melodramatic talking head on site made a big deal of the helmet situation making it sound like it was the riders fault they died for not wearing helmets. This has not been established by the investigative troopers. The bike was so mangled that I don't think helmets COULD have saved them. (The bike rolled multiple times over an embankment off the road edge.)

The text in the article said: "Troopers say helmets are an important tool to protect the lives of motorcycle riders, but many Ohioans neglect to wear them." I don't know that riders NEGLECT to wear them, but CHOOSE NOT to, in accordance with the law. The report could have also been stated "troopers stated that while the Pugh's were not wearing motorcycle helmets, it is uncertain that that could have saved their lives."

The text also stated: "Gary and Ethel Pugh died Monday after crashing their 2012 Can Am Spyder in Fairfield County.' Again, it's assuming THEY crashed the cycle, placing the blame at their feet again. Possible, but it could have been stated as "when their 3 wheeled Can-Am crashed" (not 4 wheeled as stated in the video).

"It is not yet known if alcohol was a factor in the accident." It's also true to say that "it is not known if solar flares were a factor." I get that alcohol is often a factor in road fatalities, but the way it is stated implies they could have been drinking. It was 5pm on a Monday.

They were so busy trying to blame them that the possibilities of avoiding an animal or a child didn't come up. Could have been a flat tire. Could have been a solar flare.

Instead of sensationalizing the story and trying to blame them, Why not focus on how two people celebrated their way through full lives, enjoying it to the max, and having fun. The interview with their daughter clearly showed their love of life, fun and each other, but the news tried to focus on the blame with innuendo, incomplete facts and partial truths.

Can you say ratings. Several years ago, Motorcycle Consumer News had a article dealing specifically with how the media how motorcycle crashes were covered and reported. It was an interesting read. I wish I could remember the issue, but I can't (sometimers:roflblack:) Dale
 
Can you say ratings. Several years ago, Motorcycle Consumer News had a article dealing specifically with how the media how motorcycle crashes were covered and reported. It was an interesting read. I wish I could remember the issue, but I can't (sometimers:roflblack:) Dale

That's it!! Sensationalism sells...."Is the head dead yet?"

I only scan the headlines on MSN, haven't read a newspaper for many, many years....and don't intend to start now. I'm only interested in the event, not the spin the media attaches to it....'it's not known if alchohol or drugs were a factor,' 'it's not known if Mrs. (whoever) was returning from her lovers house when her husband found and shot her...."

Bunch of bull!
 
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