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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Texas Turnip on May 13, 2022, 07:04:04 AM
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In 2021 519 motorcycle riders were killed on Texas highways 2,318 were seriously injured.
Upon reflection when I started riding my '51 Harley 74 back in 1959 there was not a m/c endorsement on your drivers license. You'd cringe at seeing some of the old half helmets we wore along with our leather jackets, Levis and engineer boots. The headlight on all the time law didn't happen until the mid 70's. I know my first Guzzi a 71 Ambo didn't have it. You would almost think that with all the safety features and m/c safety classes that motorcycle fatalities would be down.
What is the answer to reducing fatalities?
Tex
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I don’t think there is a way unless head injuries area big factor. Does Texas require helmets? I wouldn’t mind getting rid of cellphones, alcohol, adolescence, deer, sand and left turn lanes.
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Do wonder what percent of riders and/or drivers involved in these wrecks are under some amount of alcohol influence.
GliderJohn
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How many motorcycles were on the road in 59 compared to today?
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In '59 every single person in Texas wasn't driving a huge truck that you can't see a 6' tall man standing in front of you, over the hood.... while driving 90mph, changing lanes while sipping a starbuks and checking their facebook feed on a smartphone and streaming GPS directions thru their in-dash LCD screen!
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Unless the data is statistically significant (mathematically so, not just significant because my cousin was one of those who got sick/hurt/killed/etc) there's no way to accurately interpret or compare the data.
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Scout 63. No, Texas does not have a helmet law.
GliderJohn. Hate to admit that waaay too many are under the influence when they are killed.
It is always impossible to decipher the figures. When I started riding there was no freeways, lots of gravel roads and open range for livestock. The bikes had bad brakes, poor tires and headlights.
Here is hoping that next years m/c fatalities will drop.
Tex
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Cell phones, alcohol, and unaware drivers. The perfect storm.
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It would be interesting to compare those 2021 stats with previous years to see if it was normal or an increase.
I can't remember where I read it, but iirc for all of NA during the time of _ there were statistical anomalies, of high rates of death trends for males of working age, ie 20-55 yrs.
One of the areas that that showed up, were single vehicle, fatal motorcycle accidents, where the death rates jumped by 40-50%.?
The article referenced a variety of possible causes, but due to _ I'm reluctant to get into them all.
Stay safe and enjoy the ride
fwiw
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Implied safety breeds complicity. Cars are "safe", motorcycles are "safe" so we don't think that "Hey, if a tire blows im already at my max skill level" I live on a curvy 45mph county road. cars, trucks, etc normally drive at 55-60. Vary few people, or cars would do that 30 years ago. You know you would be killed. Cars, bikes, and most of all trucks are so much more easy to drive/ride on the edge, so there is just no comfort zone if there is a issue of any kind. I do wonder if the numbers brake out over single or multi vehicle accidents. That would give a better idea if its "Us or them".
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Modern vehicles with quiet interiors, minimal driver involvement and them damn huge distracting touch screens...And intoxication....and the dreaded cell phone..
My wife and I are in our mid 70's, our vehicles are always manual gearboxes...When asked why she prefers a manual, my wife says " shifting gears keeps me awake".....
I am familar with cannibus and it does affect my riding skills so I never ride buzzed...With more states legalizing weed I wonder if the accident rate increases...
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Sorry to say it but it's true. There are an awful lot of stupid mc riders out there that think they are much safer then they are on a bike. Even more that don't take riding a motorcycle seriously. Just jump on and ride .
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One thing I learned over the years is blame myself first. What did I do to possibly cause a close call. That's something that I can control.
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I live and ride in the Texas Hill Country, which has an overpopulation of deer. In the one mile 2-lane road from my home to a main road, it is not unlikely that I will see more than 30 whitetail deer. I drive very slowly and am quivering with anxiety until the main road, where I quiver a bit less, but still am very anxious and watchful.
I first wore a ("Geno" brand, aluminum "pudding bowl") helmet in Summer, 1953 and have never/could never ride without one. I would say that a quarter to a third of riders I see are helmetless. Often no protective gear at all. I guess they are immortal. Wish I were.
Ralph
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“I would say that a quarter to a third of riders I see are helmetless. Often no protective gear at all. I guess they are immortal. Wish I were.”
Passed a guy yesterday with shorts, flip-flops, no gloves, no helmet and that will not be that last one I see from now until October.
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As a fellow Texas rider.....who left Texas with the Army in '88 and just recently moved back.....
-Road infrastructure has not kept up with traffic or population growth.
-The Ford Ranger is now the size of my 94 F150 and the F150 will not fit into a standard garage.
- Speed limits are practically equal to European speeds - roads are not.
- We've done away with real Drivers Ed
I go for rides, but I no longer commute daily as I did for 30yrs.
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Sorry to say it but it's true. There are an awful lot of stupid mc riders out there that think they are much safer then they are on a bike. Even more that don't take riding a motorcycle seriously. Just jump on and ride .
Yep, not taking riding seriously. Even before I started riding, I've been shocked how many RIDERS are somehow managing to screw with their phones while riding. Latest was spotting a guy following in my rearview standing up on his pegs to pull his cell from his back pocket and following way too close. If I had to brake even moderately he would have been in my truck bed.
People have always been out there doing dumb stuff, drivers and riders alike. Problem today is a lot more vehicles on the road. Being distracted and sailing into a ditch on a backroad has become being distracted and sailing into someone's rear end or oncoming traffic.
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Living in Austin (Texas is a big place):
The mix of CA drivers and Texas drivers is scary.
There are a lot of 2 lane roads with no median and higher speed limits. I've had plenty of bad drivers in cars coming at me in my lane.
Terrible road conditions especially in the bottoms.
That said, highway fatalities are up nationwide with 43k in 2021. Think about it, as safe as the modern car is we are dying at rates similar to the 1980s. Unreal.
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I think the "Mayor" hit the nail on the head! :thumb:
Rick.
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Haven't looked at the stats recently, but last time I did, the large majority of MC deaths were SINGLE vehicle deaths/injuries. IOW, riders riding too fast, inexperienced, under the influence.
Like most of you, because I ride, I am always shocked and dismayed to see how many people have their phones plastered to their faces 24/7, and this level of distracted driving has to be adding to MC injuries and deaths. Some of these maroons are even on their phones while riding their motorcycles.
I don't throw shade towards states without helmet laws. I'm wearing a full face helmet if I am leaving my neighborhood.