Motorcycle Safety Essay

Motorcycles don’t posses many safety features that protect their rider. A car contains seat belts, airbags, four wheels for stability, and more; these are important features that help reduce accident and fatality rates. These issues only add to the main problem which is the drivers themselves, I am talking about both motorcycle rider and automobile driver. These two figures represent the majority of those on the streets, they are either inexperienced drivers or to comfortable with their driving habits and lack the attention needed to avoid situations that can arise quickly. Motorcycle safety is something not only riders need to be taught but other motorists as well; educating the population can not only reduce accidents but save lives. â€Å"Motorcycle rider deaths were nearly 30 times more than drivers of other vehicles† (D. O. T 7). Figures like this present an insight into the continuing problem represented by motorcycles. â€Å"Motorcycle accidents continue to be a growing problem as of 2008 5,290 were killed as a result of motorcycle accidents which is an increase of %2 over 2007† (Motorcycle Safety Foundation 4). Though the issue continues to grow, there is much to be done to put down the problem and save lives. The main issue is from the start, riders need much more rigorous training. Today you only take a computer or written test for a permit, which states you’re not allowed to ride at night or on the interstate but still allows you to ride during the day by yourself. You could get one of these permits with no riding experience what so ever, this is completely unacceptable for our society. Then to obtain your license you do a course test on your bike, where you weave through some cones and make a u turn and that’s it you can ride when ever where ever. â€Å"Adding injury to insult, helmet laws vary by state some don’t require one period some after 18 and so on† (Snyder 1). In Arizona after your 18th birthday coupled with the little safety experience the rider may have if any, one can ride around no helmet no experience. Three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle. The majority of accidents involve both parties colliding in some fashion. In two-thirds of accidents the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident. This points out that in the 66% of accidents that occur it’s the automobiles fault for impeding the motorcycles path of travel. This only proves the motorists should be required to achieve the same level of knowledge on motorcycle safety as the riders themselves should be. These types of situations could have been avoided had there been mandated requirements for some type of instruction and coaching on the subject of safety when it comes to handling the presence of a motorcycle. I’m trying to show that the main cause of accidents are such minor mistakes that a simple class that addresses these issue might help prevent at least one accident from occurring. The issue is not a complicated one, people don’t pay attention and accidents happen. The worst of all the situations is when both parties are attempting to pass through an intersection. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right of way, and often violating traffic controls. It most often happens when the automobile is making a left turn at the intersection and as the motorcycle is coming through the auto fails yield to the oncoming rider forcing the motorcycle to T bone the car. This is the top reported design of most accident scenes nationwide, and this is something so simple to avoid for if these drivers had been involved actively in a motorcycle safety course they would know about this fact and how important it is to apply a little more attention when dealing with intersections. This is not only important to the driver of a car but the rider of the bike would also know this fact and adhere to it so when approaching every intersection the rider would exercise extreme caution to avoid injury. During these courses teachers can take the opportunity to stress the importance of safety equipment and clothing, this includes everything from head to toe. All safety equipment is important but it’s widely agreed the most important is the helmet. Unhelmeted motorists are 29 percent less likely to survive a crash and 40 percent more likely to die from a head. It’s suggested that a rider purchase a full-face helmet, one that completely covers the rider’s entire face and head There is activity among city officials to try and spread the word about safety; the city’s Transportation Department will work with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to blanket automobile and motorcycle drivers with safety pamphlets. It’s this kind of action that is needed to start a bigger campaign on the growing issue, though it is a start tougher legislation is needed to help mandate courses for all motorists in an effort to reduce the increase in accidents as well as fatality rates among riders. It is belief that through educating the driving population we can make serious cuts in the accident and fatality rates. The drivers of cars and trucks are the main target for they hold the majority share of causing accidents with motorcycles, the safety of both parties needs to addressed for they both need education on how to keep the road ways safe because if one life is saved it’s a victory. For my sources I used lot of research and data from the Motorcycle safety foundation and the D. O. T along with other various groups that are involved in motorcycle safety and I also got some of my material from 3 different Arizona Republic articles that addressed motorcycles and safety.