There's an article in today's
New York Times about motorcycle deaths:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15fatal.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1218813024-uzUBDnDjbwHKZSDyxvl4lQIt blames it on the usual suspects: ridership is up because of high gas prices, more riders who've taken time off are coming back (and making assumptions about their skills), and relaxed helmet laws. It's a good thing that there are more riders on the road, that's for sure, but a 128% increase in fatalaties since 1997* seems a high price to pay (especially when motorcycle ownership only went up 75%).
What the article doesn't say is how many of the accidents reported are the fault of the rider vs. the fault of the SUV that ran into him/her. These statistics may well lead to more helmet laws and the like, but sadly will probably have no effect on
driver education. I'm sure plenty of dudes in flip flops and ball caps fall off their crotch rockets all by themselves, but most accidents involving a motorcycle are caused by a driver, not the rider. If only they could make a "pay-attention" law for cars, that would solve a lot of problems...
*It's also interesting to note the way cell-phone usage has increased since 1997.
