Posted on 03/12/2006 1:06:35 PM PST by martin_fierro
Bike Week Deaths Worst In Event's History
18 Deaths Most in 65 years
(CBS4 News) DAYTONA BEACH Bike Week in Daytona beach ends today, and this year’s event will go down in history as the deadliest gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in the event’s 65 year history.
18 motorcyclists have died in the past nine days, three more than the previous deadliest Bike Week in 2000. The Florida Highway Patrol says three bikers died in separate accidents Saturday, and four died on Friday.
Tens of thousands of bikers flock to Daytona each spring for the event, which celebrates motorcycles and bike culture. The FHP is blaming sunnie skies and good weather for the increase in deaths.
I swear I think thats' the first time I've ever heard of that for an excuse.
I'd pay money for some demographics, especially the make and model of the bikes involved.
Nice assumption, but you're wrong.
Check the stats from last year (and previous).
Last year they (some Press) were including deaths in Tampa and Miami for "Bike week" deaths, which is a local event in Daytona, not a statewide event.
Locally the New Journal is only including bikeweek related deaths - Volusia and Flagler counties. But others are including statewide.
The article at the start of the thread and the one from the news journal I posted down the thread support this. Been around here for awhile for bikeweek, pretty sure I know what I'm talking about.
Whatever.
The two dead bikers here on the Treasure Coast 'this week' must have missed the limelight.
Where about? The local 13 news tonight were including stats in Brevard and Martin, pretty sure.
I may be wrong; they might not be including them from places like Dade or Monroe. But I don't see how the news jumps on accidents from various parts of the state for bikers not "here" (or there) for bikeweek.
That is kind of how it goes during the Sturgis Rally. With the occasional 4 wheeler rearending the motorcycle, and last year one that takes the cake, and the 4 wheeler driver is in the slammer. Seems the porta-john he was carrying, was not properly tied down, came off or out, not sure if it was on a trialer or in a pickup, struck and killed a rally attendee.
The numbers are: 2% of registrations, 6% of fatalities. I was in a race shop in Seaside, CA and saw a great looking race bike, and asked a guy working there whose it was. "It's mine." "What do you ride on the street?" "I don't ride on the street. It's too dangerous."
There were 2 in Martin, 1 in St. Lucie, but only one was counted in the bikeweek tally. (That I'm aware of)
6 of my riding partners here also got busted up pretty bad but not killed since Tuesday. 4 on their way up or back from Daytona. (I'll get more info tomorrow.) 2 in local traffic.
I knocked out 300 miles today, but steered cleared of Daytona. Lots and lots of stuff happening all over the state.
All in all this is as bad as I've ever seen it. And when I have to go to biker funerals I get extremely pissed off.
Anyway, I just got in, the coffee is great but my shorts are sticking to my butt and I gained a dew rag tanline again. :-)
"my shorts are sticking to my butt "
Umm....thanks for the mental image, butt WAY too much info!
Glad you're safe.
Wpw, and none of them happened on the race track. Does this mean racing is safer than just riding on the streets??
I always say I ride "OFFENSIVELY!" Few cage drivers seem to understand :)
Wpw sometimes means Wow! (my bad yo)
A meterological condition where a rider is likely to see a host and crash.
First yahoo who posts the INCREDIBLY ORIGINAL "donor cycle" line gets abuse pushed on them.
Buried with abuse.
Want to start a pool as to when the first shows up, and who it will be?
"You couldn't pay me to go to Bike Week. I'd MUCH rather be enjoying twisties and sweepers!"
Same here!
You couldn't pay me to go to Bike Week. I'd MUCH rather be enjoying twisties and sweepers! LOL
You'll get no flames from me. I've been riding since '61, and have made the runs to Springfield, Sturgis and Laconia more times than I can count, though I've missed more than I've been to.
But I've heard enough about Daytona from others who've been there and swore never to return that I never had any great desire to be so personally disappointed myself.
Well, maybe I HAVE been missing something at Daytona....
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