Posted on 01/15/2005 12:38:29 PM PST by martin_fierro
Motorcycle safety activists worried about baby boomer deaths
By DAVID SHARP
PORTLAND, Maine — Mike Cullinan broke up with his girlfriend and started a new life. Part of that new life included buying a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle: a 620-pound Dyna Low Rider with a 1,450-cc, fuel-injected engine.
At 38, Cullinan was undergoing just the sort of transformation that happens to many men approaching middle age: empty nest, divorce or just plain old mid-life crisis. Those riders, mostly baby boomers, are driving up the number of motorcycle registrations nationwide.
They also make up the fastest-growing segment of motorcycle deaths.
Across the country, the number of motorcycle fatalities among riders in the 40-plus category has jumped 200 percent over the past decade while deaths among riders under 30 actually dropped, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"It´s really kind of astonishing: The ages of these fatalities are so high. You would think it would be all of the young kids on those fast bikes, but it´s not," said Carl Hallman, highway safety coordinator with the Maine Department of Public Safety.
According to NHTSA´s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the mean age of motorcyclists killed rose from 32 in 1994 to 38 in 2003. The surge in deaths among older riders helped to push motorcycle fatalities higher overall. They jumped by nearly half during the past five years, from 2,483 in 1999 to 3,661 in 2003.
In Maine, 22 people were killed on motorcycles in 2004, the highest level in a decade. The numbers are even more dramatic in Vermont and New Hampshire.
In New Hampshire, 29 died, compared to nine the year before. In Vermont, there were 11 fatal crashes, more than in the three previous years combined. In all three states, riders in their 30s and older accounted for the most crashes.
Safety experts say many older riders are either returning to the sport after a lengthy absence or have no prior experience.
"From a career standpoint, they have a little extra time and a little extra disposable income. The kids have grown up, so they´re looking for hobbies," said Rae Tyson, a NHTSA spokesman who specializes in motorcycle safety.
That fits with the experience of many instructors.
"I´ve seen a definite increase in men in their 40s and 50s getting back into motorcycling. They haven´t ridden in 20 or 30 years, so their skills are rusty. Motorcycles have changed, and they´re getting bigger motorcycles. And they´re getting on without a refresher course," said Cathy Rimm, program director for Motorcycle Rider Education of Maine.
No one knows exactly why baby boomers are dying at a faster clip on motorcycles because there hasn´t been a national study of the causes of motorcycle accidents since the late 1970s, Tyson said. Motorcycle groups are pressing for an update.
Big, powerful bikes appear to be part of the explanation. NHTSA data show that both engine displacement and fatalities among riders with the largest class of engines rose during the past decade.
Safety officials say older riders thinking about hitting the open road should recognize that their eyesight and reflexes aren´t what they once were. They also say the importance of a refresher course cannot be overstated.
"In our experienced-rider courses, we do take into account the way your body changes, that your reaction time will change and that your eyesight will change. There are changes older riders should make," said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Irvine, Calif.
In many ways, Cullinan fits the stereotype of an older rider.
The repair shop manager from Standish hadn´t ridden for 15 years, and his life underwent a big change when he broke off a relationship.
He spent more than $18,000 for his ride, a black low rider with chrome. He freely admits bravado played a role, along with enough income to make it a reality.
"I went for the largest bike I could handle, or that I hope I can handle," he said.
Though Maine and many other states require classes or clinics for new riders to get motorcycle licenses, there are no such requirements for a license holder who decides to get on a bike for the first time in decades. No state requires continuing periodic education, said Kathy Van Kleeck of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
Cullinan said his eyes were opened by the statistics. He has bought a helmet, which is not required in Maine, and he´s taking a refresher course this winter so he´ll be prepared for taking to the roads this spring.
"I´m hoping I will learn something that´ll make me safer," he said. "I´ll be riding this spring and summer with my eyes open."
Raining? Thats it, raining? Oh what a pampered life you Floridians live!
Current conditions in my neck of the woods:
Temperature: 2°F
Humidity: 49 %
Wind Speed: N 9 MPH
Barometer: 30.73" (1042.7 mb)
Dewpoint: -13°F (-25°C)
Wind Chill: -13°F (-25°C)
I'm convinced my garage refrigerator has a built-in heater. The beer isn't frozen . . .
Temperature: 60.6°F
Humidity: 86 %
Wind Speed: NNW 13.1 MPH
Barometer: 30.13" (1020.2 hPa)
Dewpoint: 56°F
Wind Chill: Not Reported
Neener neener!! :-)
But I cleaned, waxed & polished my ride last year. If I get it wet, I will need anxiety relief and a clean polishing cloth! :-)
After the when has come to fruition, the question becomes - did you heal well enough, save enough parts of your body and brain, and are crazy enough to keep riding? If the answer to any of these is "no", it's time to buy a TiVo, if you still have your eyes.
Semper Fi
Ride Safe
PS: Can't argue about the horses, old lady's in Geo Metros or first time riders who have more bucks then brains !! :-) PPS - Impressive military cabbage collection on your home page. This lowly Marine Salutes you.
What's the downside? (I was born in 1950.)
Death is cheaper for the system than long term medical care.
No one knows exactly why baby boomers are dying at a faster clip…
lol
They call the bikes, "donorcycles" in the emergency room
Same here. I've been licensed for over 20 years, and I've never taken the MSF.
That would have been possible when I was young. My first street bike was a Honda Twinstar 185. It served me well for well over a year, but I'm afraid that was only possible because of the 55mph speed limit. That same motorcycle would be worthless outside of the inner city (vespa land) now.
Sorry my friend, but statistically you're much more likely to die on the squidcycle dejour as on any cruiser from any manufacturer. Read the HURT report. You're least likely to be involved in an accident if you're riding a behemoth (read visible) bike like an Electra Glide Ultra or a Goldwing.
I rode for over 30 years and made it to the emergency room twice because of being hit by ignorant people in cars. Most of what I heard were jokes about the quality of stitching.
I also learned something about young male paramedics. With the first incident, I was lying on the pavement in pain and my passenger – a very attractive young lady – was unharmed. The medics forced her to lie down as they “checked her for broken bones”, paying particular attention to her chest, pelvis and thighs. After they determined she felt OK, they loaded me into the ambulance.
The second incident was much the same. I was lying in a spreading pool of blood and rapidly going into shock. My wife was on her feet cussing and swearing. The medics made her lay down and felt for “broken bones”. Only after deciding she felt good they loaded me into the ambulance.
To quote Freddy Mercury: Who wants to live forever?
That's the downside to growing up with motorcycles. The thrill was gone before I hit adolescence. Motorcycles were just something that were always around in my world. They were as much a part of life as station wagons.
I won't get too specific, but the director of a major DFW ER, rides a Harley.
The motorcycle gods are going to curse you and your pistons will seize. :)
Yowser!! A ground pounder!
As for the horse, to each it's own. It was obvious I was going to be small, when I was growing up, (my full adult height it 5'1'") so my parents had this fantasy of me making millions has a jockey. After 3 years around horses, you can have them. I would rather ride a moped, in a diaper, on national TV than ride a horse.
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