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The motorcycle death rate has gone up recently because there are more motorcycles on the roads. More novice bikers and scooter riders because it's a transportation alternative to rising gasoline prices.
I will say this: I'm fully in favor of a graduated license system, restricting either horsepower or cc's. Many other countries do this. Novices buying 600cc sportbikes is unheard of in most other countries. Granted, if you made laws like that, pretty soon every teenager would be forced to drive base model kias... Still, though, power/cc limits for the first year or so of riding would give people interested in motorcycles more time to learn the basics before they stradle a large sportbike.
I think the government should ban everything that can kill us. In our best interest.
No cars, bikes, motorcycles, heck.. it should even ban sex Im sure people die while enjoying a poke here and then.
OK enough sarcasm.
I can say that as someone who now drives on 2 wheels (in addition to my Saab), you are more in touch with the road and you actually have the best view of one of the biggest hazards on the road: peop;le on 4 wheels. Just last night this bozo pulls in the lane behind me too close as the bozo in front of me makes an illegal turn off the highway without brake lights or a signal. So my choice was to get hit from the front or the rear or hope for a miracle... I got the miracle.
yes being on 2 wheels has its issue, but if one takes MSF safety courses you learn techniques to help you manage the risks (safety zones, lane positioning, etc.) and the courses have helped tremendously. Generally if a person is careful on the road with a car, they will be careful on a bike.
Last edited by minibrings; 08-05-2012 at 08:00 AM..
I think the government should ban everything that can kill us. In our best interest.
No cars, bikes, motorcycles, heck.. it should even ban sex Im sure people die while enjoying a poke here and then.
In that case im moving to China.
Why ban motorcycles? it's a silly idea. The government already tried banning something Americans enjoyed, that was deemed "bad," that didn't last too long. What was that you ask? Alcohol.
I will say this: I'm fully in favor of a graduated license system, restricting either horsepower or cc's. Many other countries do this. Novices buying 600cc sportbikes is unheard of in most other countries. Granted, if you made laws like that, pretty soon every teenager would be forced to drive base model kias... Still, though, power/cc limits for the first year or so of riding would give people interested in motorcycles more time to learn the basics before they stradle a large sportbike.
I could not possibly agree more. A novice on a liter-class sportsbike isn't freely deciding to take a calculated risk based on sound judgment - he literally does not know what he's getting into. How could he? And it's not just his own neck he's risking - there are other people out there, who do not deserve to be hit by a 500-pound missile.
Besides, starting out on a bike that's to big for you tends to make you a lousy rider.
I agree with the graduated system as well, however, I dobut we will ever see it in the U S. Motorcycles are viewed more as recreational rather than primary forms of transpotation here (tho this is slowly changing). I like the graduated system because not only would it save kids from their first mistake on a 1000cc sportbike but it would also probably cut down on the number of drunk bar hopping status seeking individuals who's behavior gets them killed.something makes me think having to work ones way up the ladder might encourage them to find other recreation...exactly why I don't think we will ever see a graduated system here...it would hurt business in a country that is all about big business.
it would also probably cut down on the number of drunk bar hopping status seeking individuals who's behavior gets them killed.something makes me think having to work ones way up the ladder might encourage them to find other recreation
I hadn't even considered that angle, but that's a very good point. If your license is a somewhat cherished possession, you're less likely to risk it. Where I grew up, even a basic license is a non-trivial investment of money and effort. We were petrified at the thought of losing it, particularly to something as stupid and preventable as drunk driving/riding.
i always hear america is more strict on vehicle safety then other places around the world. So with that being said why are motorcycles legal if the death rate on them are skyrocket high as compared to people on 4 wheels?
some cities like nyc or where ever their are potholes don't even have safe enough streets for them to even ride on.
That's a legitimate question, but has much broader application than just motorcycles. For instance, driving a Chevy Aveo is more risky than driving a truck. So if motorcycles were made illegal, should small cars be made illegal as well? And what about bicycles? Where do you stop? The possibilities are endless.
I've been a motorcycle rider for over 30 years. I'm still alive partly because I'm not a stupid motorcycle rider. I don't race, pop wheelies, or weave traffic. On the other hand, a lot of motorcycle accidents are caused by car & truck drivers who simply aren't paying attention, and pull out in front of cyclists.
The bottom line is that riding a motorcycle is an assumed and accepted risk. But the fact is, just about everything in life is a risk. I don't anticipate motorcycle-riding being made illegal.
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