Anyone who has ridden a bike or motorcycle has likely worn a helmet at some point in their lifetime. They have heard it from the first day those little feet touched a pedal, “always wear a helmet.” Whether from a parent, guardian, or even television, at some point in everyone's time here on earth they have heard that wearing a helmet will save more brain cells than wearing nothing. Eventually, some of those kids that enjoyed bikes as a kid, grew up and their enjoyment that they found as a child never changed. They upgraded as time progressed, from bicycle to motorcycle.
The importance of safety gear never diminished, in fact, need for gear increased. When riding a bicycle, a helmet may protect more than enough on one's body in the case of a minor wreck, as they will only travel at around ten to fifteen miles per hour. All of that changes when you straddle a motorized machine build for the single objective of speed. Compared with people driving cars, motorcycle drivers face a much higher risk of dying in a crash, U.S. government data from 2013 show that for every mile traveled that year, a motorcyclist has a larger chance of dying than a car driver by a factor of 26 times. [source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety], with a total of 4,381 motorcycle fatalities.
Any motorcyclist will quickly say that skill and smarts play a crucial part in staying alive in a world dominated by cars. And the statistics don't differentiate irresponsible motorcyclists and responsible ones. However, all motorcyclists start out with some disadvantages. Because they have two wheels and not four, the driver's balance and driving abilities, including quick reflexes, play a critical role. However, that only accounts for rider-controlled safety, a few mechanical safety features exist but none stand up to that of car safety features.
As automotive manufacturers develop new technology to make cars even safer, motorcycle manufacturers have very little room for safety features. Motorcycle features such as, brighter headlights, motorcycle airbags and mirrors with larger fields of view can help reduce the risk of an accident or the severity of injuries. But in general, motorcycles can't enter the market labeled as safer than the
State and national motorcycle rights organizations are strong advocates of rider education and motorist awareness. I agree this is an important issue but not enough. The Journal of Trauma conducted a study to investigate motorcycle collisions with animals. Based on the results they concluded, “Deer Motorcycle Crashes (DMC) are a significant public health issue in mid-western states.” A deer darting in front of
There are a variety of reasons a motorcycle driver makes the decision as to whether to wear a helmet while riding vs. not wearing one. Some of the factors that influence this decision appear to be age, demographics (urban vs. rural living), and style and size of motorcycle. Other factors involved are where the person is riding (highway, city, side streets, rural areas, etc.) Weather conditions and time of day (early morning, rush hour, nighttime) also should be taken into consideration. Maneuvering through hundreds of vehicles on the road and the rising or setting sun in one’s eyes have a bearing on how well a driver can see.
In late October, a motorcyclist died when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a guardrail. This accident is a reminder of the importance of being a safe motorcycle rider. If you often ride your motorcycle, there are several things you can do to make yourself safer.
Today’s society is more concerned about healthy lifestyles than ever before. This means more and more people are taking to their bikes to get around. But, the existence of bikes with cars is a dangerous combination. With the heavy volume of traffic around town, it is easy to see how a cyclist can be in an accident and seriously injured. If this happens, it is critical that the cyclist knows his or her rights, and fights for a full recovery for their injuries.
After you purchase a new bike from a Harley dealership, you will be responsible for taking out an insurance policy for your motorcycle. In fact, all 50 states require motorcycle riders to carry valid insurance when they ride. Much like auto insurance, motorcycle insurance provides you with financial protection in the event that you experience a collision. To get the most out of your motorcycle insurance, you should look for a policy that has the best deductible and premium for your monthly budget. Your motorcycle insurance will cover the cost of repairing your vehicle, and will also pay for any accidents or injuries that result during a crash.
Per mile driven, a motorcyclist is 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile driver. Wearing a motorcycle helmet reduces that risk by almost one-third (29
Some of the points being discussed are because of the danger of bicycle riding without helmet a number of interventions programs have been designed to increase helmet use in various regions throughout the United States. Helmet interventions have included education, incentive monitoring and legislation programs. Various studies have been conducted
There are many worldwide problems, and riding a bike without a helmet is most definitely one of them. There are millions of people
Disfigurement injuries happen in both automobile and motorcycle accidents. However, the potential for disfigurement is particularly high for motorcyclists. The rider's motorcycle provides little protection during an accident. This leaves the helmet, leather, boots, and gloves as the only barriers between the motorcyclist's body and other motor vehicles and objects. Hitting the wrong type of guard rail, for example, can sever limbs, which is among the most severe of disfigurement injuries.
Marcus, although I have ridden very few motorcycles, the few times I have was without helmets. Also, the majority of the time it was riding an off-road motorcycle in a field. Consequently, my experience in your choice of topic is very limited, however, I may slightly disagree with your premise (M. Clark, personal communication, March 8, 2017). However, is this simply a matter of individual preference, or are there greater implications.
Many motorcyclists despite knowing the benefits of wearing a helmet, are still against the forced helmet laws. A very common argument that is used against these laws for motorcyclists, is that it would be a violation of their civil liberties. Jeff Hennie of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation says, “We are 100 percent pro-helmet, and 100 percent anti-helmet law, putting a helmet law in place does not reduce motorcycle fatalities. Educating other motorists to look out for motorcyclists, and teaching motorcyclists how to ride safely, is the ultimate solution for saving lives.” Some motorcyclists actually believe that helmets can be be a safety problem. According to the Mesriani Law Group, the shape and weight of the helmet can actually add to a motorcyclist breaking his neck during an accident. Also if your new to riding a motorcycle the helmet might be very distracting, and could a lead to a accident.
The most prevalent difference between insuring a motorcycle verses a car is the risk variable. There are simply different types of risks associated with riding a motorcycle. The unique risks associated with riding a motorcycle must be accounted for in the type of coverage that will be provided. These risks also impact the development of programs that reward drivers for safe driving.
According to the Kansas Department of transportation, there were, 1,087 motorcycle crashes in 2016. Of those, 860 people involved in the crashes were injured, 52 people died; while only 21 of those people were wearing helmets (Kansas Department of Transportation). There are only 17 states in the United States that require helmets be used always, 19 states say that you must wear a helmet if you are under the age of 18, while 11 states say you must wear a helmet if you are under the age of 21, leaving only four states that have no helmet laws at all (Motorcycle Helmet Laws)
One of the most important decisions a motorcycle rider or owner has to take is choosing the right motorcycle insurance. Depending on the coverage chosen, motorcycle insurance can pay for the cost of repairs as well as paying for the medical bills as a result of a motorcycle accident.
The dangers of riding has been present for quite some time as many bicycle related accidents have occurred in the past and continue to be an issue due to ignorance. The fault of the accidents are caused by either the drivers or the bicyclists themselves. For the case of drivers they have to make sure to be constantly aware of their surroundings and