what do you think?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Penrith, New South Wales
willowbilly,
I too ride - and I well relate to what you raise. A close friend of mine died as a result of a trailer that unhiched from a passing car. He bled to death on the road from leg injuries. You raise an interesting question....."Could they have been spared with safety devices?" May I offer the thought that safety devices are not perfect - and as has been reported with airbags - can actually at times and under particular circumstances cause injury. But the idea is to minimise the risk. Leathers, boots, gloves and a quality hat are all assistive - but not guaranteed to prevent injury.
Take Care!
Paul
I too ride - and I well relate to what you raise. A close friend of mine died as a result of a trailer that unhiched from a passing car. He bled to death on the road from leg injuries. You raise an interesting question....."Could they have been spared with safety devices?" May I offer the thought that safety devices are not perfect - and as has been reported with airbags - can actually at times and under particular circumstances cause injury. But the idea is to minimise the risk. Leathers, boots, gloves and a quality hat are all assistive - but not guaranteed to prevent injury.
Take Care!
Paul
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
From: WA
Willow
In reality, you and I agree. The terrible trunk and extremity injuries are avoidable only by not having been there to start. I contend that helmet laws are onerous as are seatbelt laws. Reducing the risk is all I tout. And yeah, i see a lot of orthopedic injuries from bikes. Most of those guys at least limp away and have some life. The percentage is no where near as good for the guy not wearing a skid lid. Most of them go to facilities for weeding and feeding.
I put a lot of miles on bikes, and my flops were always because some jerk "figured you stop quicker than that". All their cars sustained damage after the crash.
In reality, you and I agree. The terrible trunk and extremity injuries are avoidable only by not having been there to start. I contend that helmet laws are onerous as are seatbelt laws. Reducing the risk is all I tout. And yeah, i see a lot of orthopedic injuries from bikes. Most of those guys at least limp away and have some life. The percentage is no where near as good for the guy not wearing a skid lid. Most of them go to facilities for weeding and feeding.
I put a lot of miles on bikes, and my flops were always because some jerk "figured you stop quicker than that". All their cars sustained damage after the crash.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
And I also agree that wearing a helmet is a wise choice, I just want it to be a choice. Just like choosing to ride is. It is an inherently dangerous thing to do and that is assumption of the risk. Only when you respect a bike and ride like every one is out to get you can you even expect to survive. I also think that 99.9% of ALL accidents could have been avoided. If you have a conditioned response to every scenario you will survive and most likely avoid an accident. I was fortunate enough to have a couple vetran bikers for friends when I got my first bike, so I got schooled (old school) on being ready when things went wrong. The most basic thing to remember is to be totally aware of your surroundings at all times. And NEVER take it for granted that the other car will give you the right of way. Or as an old Bandito that I worked with put it"Ride like you are invisible". It is amazing how much better driver I am today because of having a street bike. Since I moved back south from Alaska I hope to have another Harley some day, but the way people drive in east Texas I probably wouldn't ride much. Like I said it is assumption of the risk and on most of the main roads here it would be too risky. It is scarey enough in an F-250 sometimes.
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