Posted on 09/21/2006 12:38:32 PM PDT by martin_fierro
SCDPS: Males Older Than 35 Lead Motorcycle Fatalities
(Columbia) – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety released facts today regarding an trend in motorcycle fatalities that shows males older than 35 to be more involved in motorcycle deaths.
The study shows the average age of a motorcycle fatality victim during the time period studied was 41 years old.
This trend in motorcycle fatalities is the opposite of other motor vehicle collision deaths. The SCDPS says the younger, 18-34 year old male is typically the demographic that is overrepresented in fatal collisions.
"Our goal here is not to put a damper on anyone's fun or personal freedom but to educate this segment of our population about the unnecessary risks they are facing," said Highway Patrol Colonel Russell F. Roark. "Inexperience is the key factor contributing to most of our single-vehicle motorcycle deaths."
After observing a steady rise in fatality numbers, the SCDPS formed a task force to look at the facts behind each Highway Patrol-investigated motorcycle fatality in 2005, and those that occurred in the first half of 2006. The committee analyzed motorcycle fatalities from January 2005 until June 2006.
The committee found that there were 156 total motorcycle fatalities during that period. The Highway Patrol studied 114 fatality packets that were complete and were Highway Patrol investigated collisions.
The SCDPS says the same pattern emerged again and again: middle-aged male; driving too fast for conditions; shown as contributing to the collision and not wearing a helmet.
The SCDPS released these numbers: - 114 fatalities studied - 90 percent of those killed were male - 66 percent were over the age of 35 - 64 percent were not wearing helmets - 73 percent of the time, the motorcycle operator contributed - 54 percent of the fatal collisions involved speed as a factor
The SCDPS says Troop Three, located in the Upstate, led the state in the number of fatal motorcycle-involved collisions.
Motorcycle fatalities in the Lowcountry – Troop Six – varied from the statewide averages, with younger males more likely to die on sport motorcycles.
The SCDPS says the statewide trend in fatal collisions follows a consumer trend as well: baby boomers and those older than 35 purchasing high-end, luxury cruiser motorcycles but failing in many cases to obtain the necessary training or licensing to ride such a motorcycle.
The SCDPS found that between 1990 and 2003, motorcycle ownership rates among baby boomers increased 44 percent nationwide, versus only 6 percent with non-baby boomers. Middle age consumers, are responsible for the fast growing segment of motorcycle registrations.
In South Carolina, the SCDPS says motorcycle registrations have risen in recent years from 56,000 in 2001 to 85,000 in 2005. Motorcycle fatalities have increased as well, the SCDPS says they jumped from 75 in 2001 to 94 in 2005, and they say 2006 is looking to finish as a record year with 84 fatalities so far this year.
A Motorcycle Safety Task Force has been spearheaded by SCDPS and met for the first time this week. The SCDPS says their goal is to bring together law enforcement, motorcycle enthusiasts, safety advocates and the SC Department of Motor Vehicles to work as a unit to find ways to increase training opportunities and educate this demographic to prevent such losses.
SCDPS also wants to emphasize that motorists need to be more aware of motorcycles on the roadway. They say in two-vehicle collisions involving motorcycles, the motorists are more likely to be at fault. The report shows failure to yield is one of the leading reasons motorcyclists die. The SCDPS says it can be difficult to spot a motorcycle in traffic or judge their speed.
Nationwide, the SCDPS says motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005; almost half of the people who died were not wearing a helmet. The SCDPS says South Carolina had a 10 percent increase during that time.
harleys are "high in price but lagging in innovation"
new 1584cc engine in 2007
6 speed trans in 2006
EFI on all Sportsters in 2005
larger rear wheels, etc. in 2004
etc., etc.
We buy HOGs for the style and comfort, they are made very well in USA, its easy to critisize harley owners but most of these people would be afraid to ride one at 70 mph,
..actually it isn't loose...and I agree that stuff falling off of the bike really stinks.. I think it is just the wimpy brackets that connect the headlight to the headlight mounting block that are flexing.
The only real "loose" equipment might be my passengers...but we won't discuss the women beyond that...lol...the good news is I may not always wear a helmet, but I ALWAYS wear a raincoat.
...concern is noted and appreciated though.
murdercycles.
I used to have one. It was fun and I miss it. I also missed a fire hydrant by inches in my crash. I counted my blessings and that was that.
PS I also quit sky diving.
I worked in a large hospital's ER for 20 years.I learned many lessons while working there.Among them are:
If you have chest pain,get your a$$ to the hospital quickly.
Never,ever shoot heroin
Never drink and drive
Never stick a screwdriver in your ear trying to get the wax out.
Never,never,*ever* ride on any motorized vehicle that has fewer than four wheels.
The whole donorcycles thing is so trite and overdone it makes one look sophomoric. Many people enjoy your insightful posts and active participation as a FReeper and we know you're more clever than that.
If motorcycles aren't your cup of tea, why jump at the opportunity to be a part of motorcycle threads? This comes from one who has been riding on the road for more than twenty years and on dirtbikes for more than thirty without (knock on wood) a mishap. I'm a full-leathers, boots, gloves, and helmet all-the-time kind of rider.
~ Blue Jays ~
"Badum-CHING!" [insert comedy club drum rimshot sound] Funny stuff about always wearing the raincoat...
~ Blue Jays ~
Why do I get involved in such threads? Easy...because of what I've seen.
Here's an example.As I've said before,I worked in a hospital for 20 years.It was a large,internationally renowned hospital affiliated with perhaps the best known and most highly regarded medical school in the world.
When I started there,a fair percentage (but not a large one) of the physicians with whom I worked (many of them world renowned) smoked cigarettes.And a noticeable percentage of the nurses I worked with smoked.
When I left,I can't recall a single physician,young or old,being a smoker.And *very* few of the nurses did.
Although I have no specific info to back this up,I'd wager every nickle I have that today,no more than .00001% of this country's ER physicians and no more than .001% of ER nurses ride motorcycles.And it's due to the simple fact that they,better than anyone else,know just what can happen on a bike...and how often,and how easily,it does happen.
Some might see mine as the voice of experience on this subject.Others will ignore my posts..or even seethe after having read them.
Not envy at all.
I know zer0 and he is like me.
We can afford 5 new Harleys but we are smarter than that. we don't need to follow the herd. We prefer value and no matter how you crunch the numbers, upsidedown and sideways, Harley is WAY behind and relies on sheep that need to buy an image.
My compliment was sincere. There is no reason why people can't be of differing opinions on FR and still maintain decorum and proper manners. I cringe when I see otherwise.
As far as the involvement of medical personnel in motorcycling, it could also point to the fact that given all the schooling and outrageous number of hours as a resident...they're simply too tired to ride. I know that I would NEVER ride my powerful sportbike after having been awake for 24+ hours. Also, many of these medical professionals are not "hitting their stride" and becoming financially comfortable (big medical school bills) until they reach their early-40's in age...and other costs such as children, schools, larger homes, etc., take center-stage.
~ Blue Jays ~
I posted this a few weeks ago but I will post it again to "Donorcycle Man".
Five weeks ago I was going to go riding on one of my motorcycles but I decided to cut my grass first. I tripped and ran over my foot severing my big toe and the one beside it. Very true story, unfortunately.
EVERYTHING is dangerous. But that doesn't mean that I am going to lock myself up in a padded room the rest of my life
As a consequence, I now change lanes very slowly, turn my signal on far in advance, and check all around my truck repeatedly. However, if someone in a smaller car or on a motorcycle were to sit in just the right spot, they would be invisible for all intensive purposes.
Thus my agreement with folks who say that you should ride as if your are invisible. Good luck and happy riding to you all...
Motorcycling is a passion that will be with me to the day I can't hoist my leg over the saddle. I consider it a calculated risk. I'm also a serious bicycling enthusiast who easily rides more than 200 miles per week for fitness. The gearing on my roadbikes allows me to reach speeds of nearly 60 m.p.h. and one tends not to see too many people saying bad things about bicycles. The best we can do in this life is be careful and keep our wits about us as we pursue what makes us happy! Sportbikes are definitely in that equation for me.
~ Blue Jays ~
Sorry to hear about your accident.I hope that you've healed or are at least on the way to healing.
EVERYTHING is dangerous.
Yup,you've got that right.Everything from blueberries to bullets have the potential to harm (or even kill) people given the wrong set of circumstances.
But that doesn't mean that I am going to lock myself up in a padded room the rest of my life.
Fair enough.My basic attitude on the general subject is that if I have a 99.8% chance of surviving a trip to the grocery store in a Chevy Impala and a 91.9% chance of surviving the same trip on a Harley,I'll take the Chevy.
And you,I assume,would take the Harley.
Different strokes for different folks,as Sly Stone once said.
Harley ... relies on sheep
Of course you wouldn't want to say this to one of us to our face. Especially with a name like hottieboy. Try coming to a HOG rally such as Sturgis or Daytona and call the guys there sheep, and tell them you are the hottieboy - ha ha.
Harley's are for those who are more about image than riding. Any wonder the company make more of licensing pocketbooks and womens leather undies, etc. than producing motorcycles?
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