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.
After I stop cringing, I always enjoy those thong wearing beauties on the back of bikes at the beach!
How’s that spandex bicycle suit working out for you? :-)
No offense intended, and I’m glad you made your own choice before it was made for you.
Ride safe.
If I had the $$ to do so, I’d could pick up a lot of bikes, esp HD’s, very cheaply after the new rider hits sand, a bug, or has their first close call.
Saw one ad on ebay where a guy was selling a HD fully outfitted, riding gear, etc for about $5000 loss because he just had a scare and almost dropped his bike with his kid on the back.
There’s more to being a motorcycle enthusiast than chrome and leather.
Can’t argue with that! :-)
The problem is that everyone makes mistakes. In traffic, you could find that you've drifted into someone's blind spot without realizing it. Even if it only takes you a second to realize that it's happened, that's still 1 second where the other guy didn't know you were there. That's why I like having loud bikes around me. They might vanish for a second or two, but they won't go silent at the same time.
Good advice; I would have never known.
Good luck with that!
When riding a bike, pretend you’re invisible.
Agree but ..........I stay away from ALL vehicles when I ride....I either slow down or pass em fast vs loitering in traffic. Now I can do that out here in the boonies where traffic jams are only made by cowboys moving herds from one pasture to the next...... I can see yer hazards if your stuck in urban heavy traffic....for that I drive vs ride.
Reckless driving is not just limited to cellular users....women putting makeup on, guys shaving with electric razors or stuffing doughnuts down their pie holes while balancing a bucket of starbucks down, reading the newspaper, on the cellular and stoooopid, changing CD’s etc etc .... Reckless is reckless regardless of the reason.
Friend of mine has installed a “stealth” paint ball launcher on his bike to tag such idiots. Folks think they hit a rock or something till they get home and find the bright neon orange splat. Washable , no permanent damage etc .......but funny !
Really? I’ve been riding for 34 years now...even in shorts and have NEVER had a bug shred my skin down to the bone. The falacy of these studies assumes that if these accident victims were wearing a helmet that they would have lived. WRONG! Most of these older bikers have relatively little time in the saddle...they think that buying a POS Harley and the full official Harley regalia will turn them into a badass. WRONG! Most are just posers.
My condolences at the loss of your son. That is the worst thing that can ever happen to a parent. You helped a lot of people by donating those parts of his body that were able to be used.
Tissue damage due to loss of oxygen starts as soon as the heart stops. Because of this internal organs are only taken for donation from people who are brain dead but whose hearts are still working. If a person’s heart stopped at the time of injury - no matter the cause of death - the internal organs would not be acceptable for transplant unless they were removed and cooled rapidly. That is not going to happen at a motor vehicle accident scene.
For my two wheeled bretheren, lets be careful out there, your flash of anger, flip of the finger, or silly notion as to which bike is "cool" and which one deserves to have its rider cut off in traffic are seen by the general public.
To the non riding public. You have no right to assume anything when it comes to the man or woman you see on the road. Make room for the motorcyclist and leave the condescending derision to thought NOT action.
Just from riding a bicycle, I know what dangers there are from bugs; shred it to the bone, I don’t know; but I can see that or gravel being able to create a disturbance in much more intense environments than I am in on the bicycle.
California is the only state in the country that allows MC to split lanes but the law says they can only move 5 miles an hour faster than the traffic....which I saw none of them doing.
I was going to rent me a MC at Anaheim HD and ride up the PC Highway but the traffic I saw in LA really discouraged this...However, a trip up Trubuco Canyon made me plan to rent one and go there next trip.
I’d prefer to ride when the bars close than in the morning commute.
Sleepy late drivers who are reluctantly going to work drinking coffee, eating, putting on makeup AND on the cell phone are worse IMO than the few drunks out after midnite.
LOL....Yep ! Odds are better indeed !
That being said, one of my favorite stories to tell is when I was about 12, my oldest brother came home and announced that he was getting a motorcycle. Now, I have 2 of the best parents in the world - our family is kinda like the "Sports Cleavers" - and my parents NEVER freaked out about anything we did or wanted to do. Three boys and they took everything in stride - especially my Mom.
Well, when the eldest made his pronouncement, my mother came up to him and said "You are NOT getting a motorcycle...period. As long as you live under THIS roof - you will NOT be getting a motorcycle. When you move out - you will STILL not be getting a motorcycle"!!!
It was the ONLY thing they ever absolutely forbade - and it left a BIG impression on me. And, I have never even wanted to have a motorcycle ever since.
I am STILL thankful to them for it as I have several dead friends and several who are injured for life - and others who have had ALOT of pain due to accidents. One was totally screwed when his tire blew out. Another was crushed by a jackknifing tractor trailer.
I am a class V kayaker, & rock climber and have no trouble with risk.
I just don't "get it" when it comes to cycles. The risks FAR outweigh the thrills. And, 80% of the time when you are hurt or killed - it wasn't even the bikers fault. Just seems kinda dumb to me (no offense! - really!)
Actually, being on a bicycle is more dangerous than riding a motorcycle...at least in my part of the country. Though we do have bike lanes, many thoroughfares do not..and this growing city has much more traffic than some 5 years ago. Plus, many of the bicycle riders forget that they have to obey traffic laws. I can only relate to my experiences with bugs and shorts.
Ray had just retired and purchased a trike so he could do a lot of touring this fall. He brought it by the store to show everyone, then headed home to start packing for the trip. As he was heading up 313, he saw an ambulance coming his way with lights flashing and siren wailing, so he pulled over to the curb. The driver of the pickup behind him also pulled over, but he was rubber-necking to watch the ambulance and plowed into Ray at almost 40mph.
Ray ended up with a fractured skull (yes, he was wearing a helmet), a broken collarbone, both arms broken, seven ribs shattered, a cracked pelvis, a broken leg, and severe internal injuries. For a while, we thought he wasn't going to make it, but Ray is a tough old coot. He was in CCU for almost three weeks, but has now recovered enough that they have moved him to a regular hospital room and he is hoping to head home in a few days.
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