| pineapple wrote: |
| I understand where all you guys are coming from. I'm going to practice everyday and I'm going to wear full gear all the time. I just want to LIVE my life and not be afraid to do anything and riding a motorcycle is one of my dreams. It must be something else having that much power at the flick of your wrist. |
All the training in the world doesn't change the fact that the majority of motorcycle accidents are another persons fault. But since you are determined about it, please be safe man. Read these statistics though, they are certainly something to chew on:
Here's a summary of NHTSA DOT HS 809 360
Single vehicle motorcycle crashes account for about 45 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities.
Findings from the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data illustrate possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes:
Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash.
Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash.
Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities.
Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities.
Per mile traveled, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured.
In 1998, 41% of all motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
The overall increase in motorcyclist fatalities from 1997 to 1999 was 203 (21.7 percent).
