"Motorcycle deaths drop, but trend is worrisome" LOL WUT?

[SacDuc]

Very poorly written headline. But here is the article anyway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110419/ap_on_re_us/us_motorcycle_deaths


sac

[ducatiz]

I get shit links like this whenever my relatives see them.

I wish they would post how many of the fatalities/serious injuries were with and without a proper helmet and gear.

I see so many idiots around hear wearing those $5 half helmets, the ones with no lining:  tshirt, cutoff jeans, no gloves, and sneakers.  You can bet he is going to die when knocked off the bike. 

But then I see a guy wearing a proper helmet, gloves, boots and maybe a armored jacket.. rarely pants.. Those guys have a far higher likelihood of survival and less injury.

Unless they can report things like that, the stats are useless.

[duccarlos]

My armor flip flops are all the gear I need.

[duccarlos]

On a serious note, the reason why death decrease at the beginning of the year might be due to the fact that people that ride in cold weather will most likely be using proper gear. The report specified that many deaths were a result of not using the proper helmet. Also, new riders will start buying in the second quarter. I'm sure a combination of little experience and improper gear are a huge factor.

[ducatiz]

My armor flip flops are all the gear I need.

make sure to also wear a spatula and a sponge on your keychain so they can pick you up easier...   

[Slide Panda]

"A related data trend is also worrisome. The number of motorcyclists wearing federally-approved, impact-absorbing helmets dropped 13 percent in the first nine months of 2010. At the same time, motorcyclists wearing so called "novelty" helmets — which are lightweight and offer little protection — rose 9 percent.

A helmet that meets federal standards reduces the wearer's chances of being killed in an accident by about 40 percent, Hedlund said. The only reason for wearing a novelty helmet is to avoid getting ticketed for not wearing a helmet, he added.

Twenty states require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, but only 13 states specify that the helmets must meet federal standards, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The board has urged states to require all riders to wear helmets that meet federal standards."

- Interesting that so few states have laws on the books regarding the fact that helmets must meet the feds standards. Odd, I wouldn't have thought states got a say in that.. but I guess that's my mistake. And when I put it in the light of the helmet free laws, I guess it makes sense.

It would be interesting to see more detailed stats like ducatiz mentions. Armored flip-flops don't protect the brain.

[ducatiz]

- Interesting that so few states have laws on the books regarding the fact that helmets must meet the feds standards. Odd, I wouldn't have thought states got a say in that.. but I guess that's my mistake. And when I put it in the light of the helmet free laws, I guess it makes sense.

It would be interesting to see more detailed stats like ducatiz mentions. Armored flip-flops don't protect the brain.

The feds can set standards for things like helmets (or even driver licenses) but cannot require the states to use them without some other sort of quid pro quo.  Highway speed limits are a good example:  the feds required 55 in the 70s but it was tired to highway money.  Some states took them money, made the highway speed limits 55mph, but then changed the law so that speeding over 55 (up to 75) was punishable by a $1 fine (Hello Montana..)

That's why you get your DL from the state, NOT from the feds:  Constitution says nothing about driver licenses.  (See d Amendment 10.)

Likewise, states can elect to "opt-in" to federal standards, but later opt out.  This is a primary power of the states under Federalism.

[duccarlos]

I love how you guys completely ignore my second statement. I'm sure most riders prefer using proper gear. Unfortunately proper gear is expensive and in some cases uncomfortable. It is the rider's choice to go out there not properly protected.

Everyone has family members and friends that feel the need to bombard you with reasons why you will eventually die while doing something you love to do. The people that come up with these useless reports don't do it so that people that bug you are armed with justification of their fear. If a report like this shows a person that wears a brain bucket that maybe it's not the best choice, then it's working. But even after this report, someone refuses to wear a helmet all together, their choice and no pregnant doging you do on an internet forum will change that choice.

[tilt]

First off I am guilty of not riding with proper gear in the past and sometimes I still don't (but that is usually just putting around the neighborhood).  Anyways though, at the end of last season I started wearing more gear and will continue to do so.  I was at a BMW rally and this old guy probably around 70 was still riding and he made a great comment, "i would rather be a little uncomfortable and ride forever then be comfortable and only last a season".  After talking more with some of this old guys friends I found out that he has been down more then anyone I have ever met combined, although he claims to have over a million miles total seat time.