Local m/c rider killed

[Wildrice]

Some drivers see the headlight flash as a signal for the other vehicle to proceed---picked up from truckers who flash their lights as a signal for the other vehicle to proceed to lane change--indicating there is adequate room. Kinda depends on the mindset of the driver in the on coming vehicle
d

 

[jaherbst]

Statistics show that most M/C accidents are caused by left turn vehicles. Most are fatal. I truly think that most people have a mindset to look for other vehicles and when there is a M/C right in front of them they subconsiously block it out and complete the turn. Something that we all have to deal with.

My solution is always slow down at intersections and when you see a car that is about to pull out. i.e. Take care of yourself and don't depend on the other driver to not only see you but look out for you. I see day after day motorcycles of all kinds in these situations doing the speed limit or above fully depending on what the other person "is suppose to do".

Wishing everyone a safe and joyous Holiday Season.

Jack and The Princess

 

[BajaRon]

What classifies " the misuse of a Helmet" ??? That bike took a real hard hit above 40 mph. I don't know how you could wear & misuse a helmet unless the chin strap wasn't buckled but the internal body organs can only handle so much before failure to function occurs.
Darrell

Just speculation from being in the fire service many years and seeing my share of M/C accidents. My guess would be that his helmet came at initial impact (inertia) and was not on his head when he hit a solid object (car or pavement). This happens quite frequently even though the chin strap is fastened correctly when the helmet is too big for the head it is on.

Arai has done a number of surveys over the years. And every time they do one they find that about 70% of non professional motorcycle riders are wearing a helmet at least 1 size (and many times 2 sizes) too large for them. There is no way to keep a helmet that is too big for your head in place when this kind of inertia is encountered.

Most people just do not know how a correctly fitted helmet should be. And most do not want a properly fitted helmet even if they are given good fitment advise. They just will not tolerate a properly fitted M/C helmet. Those selling helmets may or may not know either. But their primary job is to sell a helmet. It is a very sad situation that seems extremely difficult to rectify.

It is quite simple to know if your helmet fits properly.

Here is a decent video on this subject. Not perfect but will give you a fair idea of what to look for. If you find your helmet is too big for your head. It is extremely wise to do something about it and get a properly fitted helmet to wear. It will do a lot more than just protect your head in an accident. A properly fitted helmet is just a joy to wear... Once you get used to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjyrIIyTiNw

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

It bears repeating. When a car driver says, "I just didn't see him," he or she may be 100% correct. Not seeing a motorcycle rider, or bicycle rider, or pedestrian, is not always a case of negligence. They may in fact have not seen the rider because of the way our eyes and brains work, i.e., it's a physiological function. Read this article for a good explanation of why it happens. It was written by an RAF fighter pilot.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/elegi6k9amk8spw/1211 Road Survival Guide Final.pdf?dl=1

Jack, contrary to your comment Idaho STAR found in a study of accidents from 2009-20013 that 67% of fatalities were caused by rider error. Here's a quote from this report, page 46. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/idaho_fy2017_ar.pdf

Idaho had 61,000 registered motorcycles in 2014, this represents 4 percent of all registered vehicles in the state, yet motorcyclists represent 13.4 percent of fatalities in all motor vehicle crashes. Analysis of motorcycle crashes from 2009-2013 shows that 70 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes were over 40 years old, and 67 percent of fatalities were due to rider error.
In 2014, 25 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes, this was a slight decrease over the previous year. More than half of fatal motorcycle crashes (53 percent) involved just the motorcycle, while nearly one-third (32 percent) of fatal motorcycle crashes involved an impaired driver. Idaho does not have a universal motorcycle helmet law, only motorcyclists and passengers younger than 18 years of age are required to wear them, 58.4 percent of motorcyclists involved in the 510 reported motorcycle crashes in 2014 were wearing helmets. The fatality trend based on a 5-year average targets motorcycle fatalities (C-7) goal of 22 by 2015, preliminary estimates show that Idaho had 23 motorcycle fatalities. In addition, Idaho did not meet the fatality trend for un-helmeted motorcycle fatalities (C-8) which was 12; Idaho had 13 un-helmeted rider fatalities.

What these statistics and articles confirm is, as has been said in above posts, it is incumbent upon riders to practice defensive riding.

 

[jaherbst]

It bears repeating. When a car driver says, "I just didn't see him," he or she may be 100% correct. Not seeing a motorcycle rider, or bicycle rider, or pedestrian, is not always a case of negligence. They may in fact have not seen the rider because of the way our eyes and brains work, i.e., it's a physiological function. Read this article for a good explanation of why it happens. It was written by an RAF fighter pilot.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/elegi6k9amk8spw/1211 Road Survival Guide Final.pdf?dl=1

Jack, contrary to your comment Idaho STAR found in a study of accidents from 2009-20013 that 67% of fatalities were caused by rider error. Here's a quote from this report, page 46. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/idaho_fy2017_ar.pdf



What these statistics and articles confirm is, as has been said in above posts, it is incumbent upon riders to practice defensive riding.

That would also cover going too fast through intersections and depending on the other person to look out for you. Thrill seekers have no business riding and if they do it is a short ride literally. We all ride year around here in Tucson and I wonder how so many survive riding the way they do. I certainly am not a M/C safety expert but at least I have survived 67 years of M/C riding (survival). I do agree that most accidents are caused by the rider not riding safely or defensively. We have about on the average 2-3 M/C deaths a week here in the greater Tucson area. Most are related to vehicle left turns while the M/C is speeding through the intersection. Phoenix has about the same. No Helmet state. Some of these Fatal Accidents would happen with or without a Helmet.

I wonder what the statistics would be for states that were more populated and had a lot more traffic? I saw that in Idaho 67% of fatal motorcycle accidents did not involve another vehicle. Does not say a lot about the demeanor or behavior of the M/C riders, does it? Of course that would include Spyder Riders as well. We are all classified as Motorcycles.

Jack