Posted on 07/15/2007 7:30:18 AM PDT by BraveMan
It's been a year since Jeffrey and Christine Konrath of Slinger died in a motorcycle crash in Dodge County.
Except for the fact that they weren't drinking, the Konraths could be the face of motorcycle fatalities today: older riders - he was 45, she was 48 - on a larger bike, killed on a rural road. And neither was wearing a helmet.
It's that last point that most frustrates Christine's daughter Angeline Schreiber. She has little tolerance these days for motorcyclists who forgo protective gear.
"I would never tell people not to ride bikes," said Schreiber, who is raising her 12-year-old half sister since her mother and stepfather were killed.
"I would just like people to think about safety precautions before they do it."
Jeffrey and Christine Konrath were among 93 motorcyclists who died on Wisconsin roads in 2006, up 79% from a decade ago. Over that same time, motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled nationwide.
Much of that can be attributed to the rising number of bikes on the road. In fact, in Wisconsin, the death rate dropped in 2005 to the lowest level since 1996, when factoring in the number of motorcycles registered, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The death rate nationally rose 30% during that period.
Riders and safety officials say they are troubled by the rising death toll and some of the trends they see reflected in the numbers.
"What stands out to me is the significant increase in those killed that are 45 and older," said Dennis Hughes, who as chief of safety programs for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is implementing new programs to target those riders.
Last year in Wisconsin, 43% of motorcyclists killed were 45 and older, up from around 10% in 1995 and under 2% in '91, according to the state.
"It's that baby boomer generation coming on board," said Hughes.
"Many of them had experience riding bikes. But they're going back to a bike that's a lot different from what they learned on. They're bigger, they're heavier and the maneuvering is a lot different."
Hughes' observations are reflected in the national data as well. Riders 40 and older made up nearly half of the fatalities in 2005, the latest year for which those numbers are available, according to NHTSA, up from 24% in 1995.
Among the other trends in Wisconsin and the nation:
• A growing number of fatalities involve larger bikes with more powerful engines (1,001 to 1,500 cubic centimeters).
• Alcohol consumption and failure to wear a helmet continue to be factors. In Wisconsin last year, 75% of those killed weren't wearing helmets and 47% had been drinking. Nationally in 2005, the latest year available, 35% had been drinking and 43% were not wearing a helmet.
• Of those killed, older riders were more likely than their younger counterparts to have been intoxicated and less likely - at least to age 60 - to wear a helmet. Younger riders were more apt to be speeding.
Brookfield motorcyclists Catherine and Peter Dhein, both in their 50s, aim to defy the statistics. He's taken the Harley Rider's Edge training course, and they always wear helmets, said Catherine, as they readied their Ultra Classic for an overnight trek from Milwaukee's House of Harley to western Wisconsin on Friday.
"We don't drink when we're riding, and we don't drive at night," she said.
Aside from the trends and the growing number of bikes on the road, it's difficult to explain the rising death toll. However, that could change in the coming years.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Irvine, Calif., said this month that it would commit $2.8 million to match federal funds set aside to conduct the first comprehensive study of motorcycle crash causes since the 1970s.
The findings could have long-term implications for riders, manufacturers and policy-makers.
"When that's done, we'll understand why this is happening and what we can do to reduce these numbers, said NHTSA spokesman Ray Tyson.
"We know, for example, that increased helmet use helps, that impaired riding is a factor," he said. "But we don't know what else, for example, things we could be doing to make motorcycles safer."
Wisconsin, in the meantime, has been expanding its rider education programs, adding classes to accommodate the growing demand and targeting some to older or returning riders.
In addition to the standard safety program available through technical schools around the state, the DOT offers a refresher course for returning riders and a new Seasoned Rider program that addresses the effects of aging - for example, declining vision and reaction time. And it is launching a pilot program in the Fox Valley that pairs new or returning riders with experienced mentors.
The state is looking to expand a program tested by a motorcycle coalition in Jefferson, Dane and Waukesha counties that lets riders lock up their bikes in secure storage crates at local bars if they are intoxicated, and federal officials are interested in rolling that out nationally.
In every program, regardless of the age or expertise of the rider, safety instructors stress two recurring themes: the importance of riding sober and proper equipment, most importantly a helmet, said Ron Thompson, who manages the motorcycle safety programs for the state.
"We tell people, if you don't wear it for yourselves, wear it for your family and friends - so you can ride again," Thompson said.
I like that basket on the front. I can picture the looter guy on one of these with a basket full of Heineken.
Many don't understand that most people in cars are programed to watch for cars and trucks. M/Cs have very small profiles and in many cases it just doesn't register with the driver of the car. They don't see you in their minds eye.
You can be the best rider on the planet, but if they turn left into your direction of travel, you get launched and it's lights out.
If it was a two stroke, it was!
I had a near fatal crash on the 26th of June. Spent a week in a coma and another week in the hospital. I broke six ribs, both wrists, collapsed a lung and have lots of missing skin. The thing that saved my life was that I was wearing my helmet!
I’ve been riding since 1970 and never had an accident and they say I hit another biker from the rear (I don’t remember). If i’d been wearing my leathers the rest of the damage would have been a lot less.
I love to ride but I really don’t think I’m going too after this one.
Good luck with that!
Yeah, no kidding. It's bike #55. I am 59 years young now, it should take me to my late 60's.
Then I plan to slow down some...
I've been riding for close to 35 years and don't agree. IT IS soem of the biker's fault if they are not riding at the defensive level required.
What good is a helmet going to do you if you get launched off your bike? Less mess to clean up?
No, they make the best leathers. I wear my Harley leather jacket in the winter when I am driving my Jeep.
Hey...where ya been? More tires on the roof? You must be one of those guys I see on the side of the road...enjoying the “Harley experience”. Right??
Don't if you don't need to. Am now in my late 60's and plan to put off slowing down some till my late 70s.
evel ridin’ a coot-scoot? Larry, tell me this is a joke.
You think Knoxville was bad for bikers in the past you should try riding there now.
I wish it were, Taf, I wish it were! :-)
Me, too.
Sad isn’t it! LOL.
Preaching to the choir!
Sounds like a plan...
I was riding my old ‘87 Beemer KLT100 near Telluride in 2001 on a trip to Oregon. I thought I’d wind the day up and have a beer there in a small town. Sturgis was in full swing at the time, so when I went in to the bar it was full of bikers. One of them noticed I had a Harley jacket on and that I had come on a BMW. He asked me about it. I said, “well, when I needed a leather jacket I bought the best one I could find. And when I bought my bike...” He bought me a beer.
HOW ABOUT THEM VOLS! ^_^
Victory Cycles is near us, that is a motorcycle made by Polaris to the unitiated.
I think they have a lot of good accessories.
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