Death.. on the Dalton Highway (home, college, live in)

[Glitch]

I used to be a avid biker when I lived in Los Angeles. I would easily put between 20,000 and 25,000 miles per year on my Yamaha V-MAX. However, the road conditions are vastly superior in southern California when compared to Alaska. Needless to say, I sold my bike before I moved.

There are too many risks in Alaska. All it takes is to lose control of the front tire and you are going down. I do not care how good you are, nobody can stay on a bike once the front tire goes out from under you. However, I have experienced a blow-out in my rear-tire while driving in excess of 100 mph, and one can maintain control after losing their rear tire. I managed to pull off the road safely after my flat. Had that flat been on the front tire, I would have been street pizza.

The witness said Munn started to fishtail. That indicates to me that he had control of the front tire and lost control of the back tire. When I had my blowout in my rear tire, I was fishtailing all over the place, but because I still had control of the front tire, I was able to pull over and stop safely.

As far as helmets are concerned, I only wore them when I knew I would be driving in excess of 90 mph or on those rare days in southern California when it rained. I found that at 90 mph and above, if I did not wear a helmet my eye-lids would flap in the wind, making it almost impossible to see. And rain hurts when you are driving 90+ mph without a helmet.

[missik999]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

My first husband and his brother-in-law were killed years ago by an AWOL idiot who was being chased by the police. The idiot was in a car, they were on a motorcycle. A helmet would never have saved them; one had his leg amputated when the car hit, and they were both thrown 60 feet by the impact. 'Sometimes' a helmet helps and it's all in the luck of the draw, and sometimes it just doesn't matter.

Some accidents aren't survivable, helmet or not. But a surprising number of people are killed in relatively minor accidents because of hitting their heads on a curb, and those accidents would be survivable when a helmet is worn.

A good friend of mine always wore his helmet except on short trips. He was riding from a convenience store to his home, less than a mile trip, when he hit his head on a curb at only 20mph. Sad thing was that his helmet was strapped on his motorcycle when the accident happened.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by missik999

Some accidents aren't survivable, helmet or not. But a surprising number of people are killed in relatively minor accidents because of hitting their heads on a curb, and those accidents would be survivable when a helmet is worn.

A good friend of mine always wore his helmet except on short trips. He was riding from a convenience store to his home, less than a mile trip, when he hit his head on a curb at only 20mph. Sad thing was that his helmet was strapped on his motorcycle when the accident happened.

That's what I meant by the luck of the draw..it depends..

From what I've seen of folks in any kinds of wrecks, paralyzed, etc. and those with TBI (traumatic brain injury), I'd rather die but that's just my opinion, and then there are those who walk away unscathed. Must be like my dad use to say 'when your times comes, you're going, no matter what.'

I haven't gotten on a motorcycle since they were killed long ago. I actually feel sick when I know my son is riding his.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by missik999

Some accidents aren't survivable, helmet or not. But a surprising number of people are killed in relatively minor accidents because of hitting their heads on a curb, and those accidents would be survivable when a helmet is worn.

A good friend of mine always wore his helmet except on short trips. He was riding from a convenience store to his home, less than a mile trip, when he hit his head on a curb at only 20mph. Sad thing was that his helmet was strapped on his motorcycle when the accident happened.

Pure hogwash, nothing less.

Thankfully, Alaska does not have a mandatory helmet law, and it never will.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Thankfully, Alaska does not have a mandatory helmet law, and it never will.

Neither does WI, but like you, we still need to buckle up for safety. And like you, this guy NY motorcyclist dies on ride protesting helmet law - Yahoo! News didn't believe in them either.

Even kamikaze pilots wore helmets.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Alaskapat528

That's what I meant by the luck of the draw..it depends..

From what I've seen of folks in any kinds of wrecks, paralyzed, etc. and those with TBI (traumatic brain injury), I'd rather die but that's just my opinion, and then there are those who walk away unscathed. Must be like my dad use to say 'when your times comes, you're going, no matter what.'

I haven't gotten on a motorcycle since they were killed long ago. I actually feel sick when I know my son is riding his.

Your father was right. But at the same time you cannot allow fear to rule your life. Sometimes the risks are worth it.

I was able to avoid quite a few accidents on a motorcycle that would have been unavoidable in a sedan. I learned quickly that in order to survive in traffic on a motorcycle you have to drive like you are invisible, and every vehicle on the road is out to get you.

I felt the safest when I was on the freeways, because all the traffic was going in the same direction. I felt the least safe on city roads with all the cross traffic. Stopping to make a left-hand turn at an intersection was the most precarious moment. That is where most accidents happen, because the person in the car or truck "never saw" the biker.

[missik999]

There was an interesting study published in June regarding organ donations numbers and mandatory helmet laws.

In the study’s conclusion, its authors note that motorcyclist fatalities decline by 30 percent when mandatory helmet laws are enacted. Currently, only 3 states do not have motorcycle helmet laws, though many states require helmets only for those under the age of 18.

The study estimates imply that every death of a helmetless motorcyclist prevents or delays as many as 0.33 deaths among individuals on organ transplant waiting lists.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by RedJacket

Neither does WI, but like you, we still need to buckle up for safety. And like you, this guy NY motorcyclist dies on ride protesting helmet law - Yahoo! News didn't believe in them either.

Even kamikaze pilots wore helmets.

LOL! Like me? First, despite rumors to the contrary, I am not dead. Second, I do believe in wearing helmets, as I have already previously posted.

I wore my helmet when I knew I would be traveling in excess of 90 mph, and I also wore my helmet when it rained. In the seven years I rode motorcycles in southern California I had four accidents, two while wearing a helmet, and two when I was not wearing a helmet. At no time did my helmet ever get as much as a scratch. I wish I could say the same for the rest of my body.

[missik999]

Originally Posted by RedJacket

Neither does WI, but like you, we still need to buckle up for safety. And like you, this guy NY motorcyclist dies on ride protesting helmet law - Yahoo! News didn't believe in them either.

Even kamikaze pilots wore helmets.

I saw that news story when it happened. Sad thing is that law enforcement said he likely would have survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by Glitch

LOL! Like me? First, despite rumors to the contrary, I am not dead. Second, I do believe in wearing helmets, as I have already previously posted.

I wore my helmet when I knew I would be traveling in excess of 90 mph, and I also wore my helmet when it rained. In the seven years I rode motorcycles I had four accidents, two while wearing a helmet, and two when I was not wearing a helmet. At no time did my helmet ever get as much as a scratch. I wish I could say the same for the rest of my body.

Yeah, I know (think) you are alive and well. I'll not be positive of that until I see a few anti-American communists sprinkled in with your comments.