DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE

Dangers Present When Operating a Motorcycle

Brian A. Riveron
University of Texas at El Paso

DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE

Table of Contents
Title Page 1
Table of Contents 2
Core Paper 3-6
Resources 7

DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE
Motorcyclists drive to be free from enclosed cages and enjoy the open road should they
be more likely to die because of this? Motorcyclists love the open road and the feeling of the
wind on their face they also enjoy all the perks that come with their vehicle of choice.
Motorcycles are economic and maneuverable in big busy city environments due to their small
size and quick acceleration. With this comes negative aspects as well; their small size makes
them harder to see on the road and more prone to collisions. Crashes on an open vehicle such as
a motorcycle leave you exposed to the violent conditions common with crashes. This is why
motorcyclists take certain precautions to prevent or protect them in collisions.

DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE

When motorcyclists venture out onto the open road they acknowledge the danger they
face however they place a certain amount of trust in other drivers to drive correctly and calmly.
This is not always the case; either their phones or failing to pay attention to their surroundings
puts drivers around them in danger. In these situations motorcyclist are more likely to be
involved in an accident. 60% of the time automobile drivers are found at fault when the fail to
yield to motorcyclist causing T-bone
collisions which eject the rider at high
speeds leading to serious injury or death.
Other drivers are the leading cause of
death towards motorcyclists if this threat
could be eliminated motorcycles would not
have such a negative appearance in the media. Other types of collisions consist with drivers
attempting to merge into a lane occupied by a biker, essentially running them off the road. When
a blind spot can conceal a whole vehicle a rider can be understandably tougher to see. Drivers in
the US are not accustomed to sharing the road with motorcyclists such as in the UK where
motorcycles are seen as a mode of transportation and not a hobby.
Automobile drivers are not entirely to blame on the topic of motorcycle deaths. A high
percentage of motorcycle deaths involved only the rider themselves. Like many communities a
certain faction caries a reputation that can be carried to the whole group, recklessness and
senseless endangerment virtually always lead to serious accidents occurring. Motorcyclists who
make the conscious decision to speed and preform stunts on the open road are undoubtedly
higher risk riders then all others. This mixture of harmful factors only becomes worse when
alcohol is included. Alcohol has proven over the years to increase your likely hood of harming

DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE

yourself or others when operating vehicles. 28% of deaths involving motorcyclist consisted with
alcohol in their blood stream. To operate a motorcycle you need to maintain balance and quick
reaction time, alcohol diminishes these abilities.
Some other factors that can contribute to greater
risks is the type of bike you decide to drive. For
example, sport bike riders are branded as reckless
and more likely to be involved in an accident. This
is not always true, but sport bikes are generally
advertised for their fast speed and maneuverability.
While cruiser riders are perceived to ride calmly and safely which is also not always true.
A motorcyclists abilities must also be put into question and whether they can properly
operate this vehicle. A percentage of riders fail to acquire a motorcycle license and attempt to
acquire these skills on the open road. States such as Texas require citizens to attend a MSF
(Motorcycle Safety Foundation) class to procure a motorcycle license. Classes such as this teach
new riders skills necessary to avoid dangers common on public roads while in a safe closed
environment. Skills vary from basic operation of a motorcycle to life saving maneuvers such as
swerving from oncoming obstacles and counter steering. Once you have completed this class,
you can present your class completion form and get your license now that the state knows you
can be on the roads with a common understanding of safety. Although the class has been
completed, you are still gaining learning experiences as you drive alone. Teaching skills to new
four wheeled drivers can also help motorcyclists stay safer on the road. Making them aware of
the difficulties such as the low visibility of a motorcycle on the road compared to larger vehicles
can help them avoid hitting a rider. By also informing those of how motorcycles cannot brake

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quickly, due to the chances of being launched from their bike, will allow them to maintain a safe
distance from a rider in front of them
There are also some preventative measures all riders should take in order to avoid serious
injury or even death. Some states require certain riders to wear helmets at all times due to the
fact that head injuries are common with motorcyclist. These helmet laws are mostly centered
towards young riders of 21 or younger. Laws such as this protect riders who are more likely to
crash in their first years of riding because they are generally more reckless and inexperienced. In
the years of 2008-2010, 6,056 of the 14,283 killed in that time period failed to use helmets. A
solution to this problem could be to require riders of all ages to use a helmet. An argument that
might arise would be discomfort complaints nevertheless this argument was made for seatbelts
which are now required at all times, when it comes to the safety of citizens or personal
preference, safety always triumphs. Helmets are considered the pinnacle of protective equipment
however there is a wide array or protective equipment at your disposal. Motorcycle jackets
contain special padding to help absorb hard impacts and are also abrasion resistant and protect
your skin from contact on the road preventing road rash.
Life as a motorcyclist can be dangerous, but no rider rides eager to die. Every driver on
the roads need to be mindful of their surrounding cars and motorcycles alike. It is in every
drivers best interest to make sure they avoid any accidents with one another. Motorcyclists
should also wear all possible protection because at the end of the day, their life is the one at risk.
Dangers on the road can never be completely eliminated which is why riders also need to be
observant of distracted or reckless drivers and place as much distance between them. As long as
they keep all the skills they have obtained with them, their chances of survival greatly increase.
Deaths on a motorcycle do not need to be so common when a vast variety of preventative

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measures are present. Motorcycles carry a negative perspective from the average citizen as a
death machine for reckless individuals. If this thought continues to grow, the motorcycle
community will slowly lose members and fade into non-existence. As a community, this idea
needs to change and be focused on positive factors such as the economic and maneuverability
that comes with a motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle lets you escape an enclosed cage and truly
experience the freedom of the open road. Riding is a life changing experience for some, and the
solution to simply stop riding is out of the question. Every driver on two wheels faces the same
dangers as every other motorcyclist whether it be a scooter or a sport bike. It is in the motorists
hands if their chances of danger increase or decrease. Motorcyclists ride in order to live not to
die.

Resources

Angel, S (2013). Car drivers cause most crashes with motorcycles, study finds.
SunSentinel. Retrieved from http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-03-09/news/fl-finding-fault-inmotorcycle-crashes-20130309_1_motorcycle-crashes-chanyoung-lee-motorcycle-riders
Basem, W. (2007) Motorcycle Gear 101. About Autos, Retrieved from
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/gearreviews/tp/Motorcycle-Safety-Gear-101.htm
Ehline, M (2014) Knowing the Yearly Motorcycle Casualties Can Save a Bikers Life:
Motorcycle accident lawyers. Retrieved from.
http://motorcycleaccident.ehlinelaw.com/knowing-deaths-save-bikers-life/
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute (2013). Fatality
Facts. Retrieved from http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles

DEATHS ON A MOTORCYCLE

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute (2013) Topic
Overview. Retrieved from. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/topicoverview
Melissa, C. (2012) Benefits of Taking a Motorcycle Safety Course. Department of Motor
Vehicles, Retrieved from http://www.dmv.org/articles/benefits-of-taking-a-motorcycle-safetycourse/
Rebecca, B. (2012). Helmet Use Among Motorcyclists Who Died in Crashes and
Economic Cost Savings Associated With State Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report, Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6123a1.htm