MidlifeMotor
Member
Motorcycle riding is an inherently dangerous, but enjoyable, activity. What comes to mind in every rider is " how can I keep from getting killed by cagers". The Hurt report documents many statistics for motorcycle crashes. I want to offer an easier summary of what I have observed after attending my share of motorcycle crashes. I also consulted with our Master Police Officer, a collision reconstructionist with our PD. He has been on the job for 35 years, most of it in traffic. He has investigated hundreds of fatal collisions, many of them involving motorcycles.
The good news for ST riders is the statistics are in our favor. We can control many factors influencing fatal collisions. A good percentage of fatal motorcycle collisions involve alcohol use by the rider. My rule of thumb is if I have even one sip of beer, I don't ride the rest of the day. Helmets, while not a guarantee of safety, significantly improve the odds of surviving a crash. Helmet debates rage on other motorcycle forums, but given the nature of the ST I would be surprised if many rode without one. Many fatals involve riders with no training or motorcycle license. Ok, those are the layups for facts.
Now for the good stuff. Nearly all of the fatals we deal with, the motorcycle rider locked up the rear wheel and either 1. went down on its side, significantly reducing the ability to slow the bike, or 2. panicked and released the rear brake after lockup, causing the rear wheel to regain traction and cause a "high side" where the rider is thrown from the bike. In most of our fatals, the motorcycle rider never applied the front brakes. Many riders operate under the mistaken myth that using the front brake is a bad thing. Up to 70 percent of a motorcycle's stopping/slowing ability come from proper application of the front brake. With the ABS on the ST, many of these dangerous scenarios are significantly reduced. ABS is no guarantee of safety, and riders should still practice maximum braking exercises.
Now, for the dreaded left turners. Most of our left turners in front of motorcycle are either DUI (many on prescription meds) or TMB (Too Many Birthdays i.e. old people). So what can you do about that? First, you must assume they don't see you. Second, do as much as you can to get them to see you. When I approach an intersection and an on-coming vehicle is waiting to turn left, I always decelerate when entering the intersection. Letting off the throttle, even slightly, will help you slow the bike much faster. Lane positioning is crucial. Most educated riders will be in the far left lane most of the time. But what position in that lane is best?
When I ride, both personally and on duty, I am in the far left lane most of the time. If you divide the lane into three tracks (left, center, and right) I am either in the left or right track. When approaching an intersection, I am usually in the left track of the far left lane. As I am approaching an intersection with an on-coming vehicle waiting to turn left, I will switch from the left track to the right track in the same lane. This lateral movement is easy for the left turner to see, but is no guarantee. As I do this movement, I am watching the left turner. If they come across me and turn, I can now swerve back to the LEFT and around them. Make sense? Of course the key is to assume they do not see you at all.
So what's my point? We all hear stories, almost daily, of motorcycle riders getting killed. Many times the rider could have done things to prevent the collision. Many of the fatals I have been on the rider pretty much did everything wrong possible. I went on a serious injury accident the other night where the HD rider had no front brake caliper on his chopper and his rear brakes barely worked. Mr. TMB turned left in front of him and the HD rider got mangled. Two broken arms, a broken femur, and a dislocated hip. Are there fatal collisions where the rider could not have done anything to avoid it? Of course, but it is an inherently risky activity we choose to do.
The recon guy from my PD said if all riders 1. wore helmets 2. learned how to use the front brake and 3. learned a swerve technique, then he would have almost no motorcycle fatals to investigate.
The good news for ST riders is the statistics are in our favor. We can control many factors influencing fatal collisions. A good percentage of fatal motorcycle collisions involve alcohol use by the rider. My rule of thumb is if I have even one sip of beer, I don't ride the rest of the day. Helmets, while not a guarantee of safety, significantly improve the odds of surviving a crash. Helmet debates rage on other motorcycle forums, but given the nature of the ST I would be surprised if many rode without one. Many fatals involve riders with no training or motorcycle license. Ok, those are the layups for facts.
Now for the good stuff. Nearly all of the fatals we deal with, the motorcycle rider locked up the rear wheel and either 1. went down on its side, significantly reducing the ability to slow the bike, or 2. panicked and released the rear brake after lockup, causing the rear wheel to regain traction and cause a "high side" where the rider is thrown from the bike. In most of our fatals, the motorcycle rider never applied the front brakes. Many riders operate under the mistaken myth that using the front brake is a bad thing. Up to 70 percent of a motorcycle's stopping/slowing ability come from proper application of the front brake. With the ABS on the ST, many of these dangerous scenarios are significantly reduced. ABS is no guarantee of safety, and riders should still practice maximum braking exercises.
Now, for the dreaded left turners. Most of our left turners in front of motorcycle are either DUI (many on prescription meds) or TMB (Too Many Birthdays i.e. old people). So what can you do about that? First, you must assume they don't see you. Second, do as much as you can to get them to see you. When I approach an intersection and an on-coming vehicle is waiting to turn left, I always decelerate when entering the intersection. Letting off the throttle, even slightly, will help you slow the bike much faster. Lane positioning is crucial. Most educated riders will be in the far left lane most of the time. But what position in that lane is best?
When I ride, both personally and on duty, I am in the far left lane most of the time. If you divide the lane into three tracks (left, center, and right) I am either in the left or right track. When approaching an intersection, I am usually in the left track of the far left lane. As I am approaching an intersection with an on-coming vehicle waiting to turn left, I will switch from the left track to the right track in the same lane. This lateral movement is easy for the left turner to see, but is no guarantee. As I do this movement, I am watching the left turner. If they come across me and turn, I can now swerve back to the LEFT and around them. Make sense? Of course the key is to assume they do not see you at all.
So what's my point? We all hear stories, almost daily, of motorcycle riders getting killed. Many times the rider could have done things to prevent the collision. Many of the fatals I have been on the rider pretty much did everything wrong possible. I went on a serious injury accident the other night where the HD rider had no front brake caliper on his chopper and his rear brakes barely worked. Mr. TMB turned left in front of him and the HD rider got mangled. Two broken arms, a broken femur, and a dislocated hip. Are there fatal collisions where the rider could not have done anything to avoid it? Of course, but it is an inherently risky activity we choose to do.
The recon guy from my PD said if all riders 1. wore helmets 2. learned how to use the front brake and 3. learned a swerve technique, then he would have almost no motorcycle fatals to investigate.
