Episode 041 - 10 Scary Motorcycle Statistics

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[00:00:00]

Teaser

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tom: Todd, did you know it takes 37 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, but only 7 to twist the throttle? Well, We're really close to Halloween, Todd, so today we can talk about something scary. And it is scary, and you know, I think it's rational, but uh, we're gonna talk ten scary motorcycle statistics, so anytime you ride a motorcycle, there's always someone that wants to talk to you about how dangerous it is.

tom: So as we walk through these we'll be talking about those things and kind of address those ~Um, ~and yeah, I mean some of these are scary and and and we'll get to that.

Statistic 1 - Motorcycle Fatalities

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tom: So Uh, the first one is motorcycle fatalities. So we're starting off with a bang. ~Um, ~it's a good number one Hello and welcome to the show Uh motorcyclists are 29 times more likely [00:01:00] to die in a crash than car occupants I mean And before I go any further, well, I've got statistics here and we'll include links in the show notes for all these, if people are that interested.

tom: But, you know, I think bikes are not safer than cars. I think that's pretty easy to figure out. ~Um, ~and kind of coupled with that one, I think that

Statistic 2 - Motorcycle Helmets

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tom: is number two, uh, with helmet usage, helmets reduced the risk of injury by 69%. Yet, only half the states have helmet laws. And so, I mean, those two, I think, go hand in hand because I think a lot, as it said here, you know, head injury on motorcycle accidents and then, of course, fatalities, are going to be worse if you don't wear a helmet.

tom: I kind of always say is like, would you want to jump out of a car at 55 miles an hour with no protection? I would not with that's why I choose to wear a helmet, you know? ~Um, ~yeah, [00:02:00] I don't know. What are you thinking about that one or those two kind of combo?

Todd: Well, yeah. ~Um, ~to me, this is all just like obvious common sense.

Todd: However, you know, it is a choice, you know, wearing a helmet's a choice. And,~ um,~ You know, eventually just like they did with seatbelts, the insurance companies eventually

tom: will kind of force that. Well, and with some of that, I would, that would be something, I mean, I guess this is personal injury. It's not like wearing a helmet is going to save your motorcycle from getting hurt.

tom: Uh, but you know, and not all helmets are the same either. So even 50 percent of the, of the States that have the helmet law, you'll see some pretty small helmets. Okay. And again, I mean, I know the people that are forced to wear a helmet are going to wear a smaller beanie style helmet that officially passes the rules and I guess that's what it comes down to.

tom: I, I, for me, I think I don't really, I mean, I've rode a couple of times, a few times, a handful of times without a helmet and it is, it is more, it's not, it's kind of a more [00:03:00] open feel, feeling. But I guess for me, I mean, I don't. I just want to protect my head. So, for me, that's what it is. But I think it comes down to choice.

tom: And the beautiful face. What's left of it. So, anyway. I think that's enough said on that. ~Um, ~

Statistic 3 - Motorcycle Injury

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tom: ~-~ just talking about injury, of course. Motorcycles have an 80 percent chance of injury or death. You know, and that's, it's kind of goes along with the first one and 20 percent for car. And what you and I have talked a little bit about, it's really a risk versus reward.

tom: I mean, I don't think anyone's going to go say, you know, I ride a motorcycle because it's safer than a car and it's just not, it's not right. It's not, but it, you don't, it, the experience is completely different as well. I mean, I think about that when I drive versus ride most times,~ um,~ I It's, it's, it's much more fatiguing to ride a motorcycle.

tom: ~Um, ~so it's just a whole different experience. I mean, we've talked about this a number of times. I mean. In your car, you don't realize [00:04:00] that everything's changing every 100 feet. I mean, it could be smells, it could be temperature, the feeling of the air, you know, ~um, ~Wind. Wind. Oh my gosh, wind.

Todd: Or, you know, dust particles in the air, you know, and that starts hitting you on the motorcycle.

Todd: Things you don't notice in the

tom: rain, rain, well rain, of course,~ um,~ it's just very different. You sometimes hear people say, Oh, riding a motorcycle is like flying a plane. And I, and I heard something recently that says, no, it's more like a horse. And I'm like, that is perfect. It actually, well, I shouldn't say that cause I've never rode a horse, but my perception of riding a horse.

tom: ~Um, ~and you're just, you sit different. Like sometimes I'm kind of surprised when you're in traffic and you've kind of look over, you're much. Kind of higher all

Todd: of them. Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah, I mean You know with a horse you're six or eight feet off the ground, right? You have that factor falling But I mean, it's about the experience, you know, the the riding riding a horse riding in a [00:05:00] car and riding a motorcycle There's experiences there and it's a completely different experience being in the car than it is on a motorcycle on a horse That's what we're riding for and that's why we ride no matter what you're riding.

Todd: That's why you ride It's for that

tom: and what I'm also so Surprised or shocked is that the view like you can drive a road a hundred times and ride it once on the bike and You see completely different things. Yeah, I don't know why that is. Because the smell makes you turn. I don't know. I agree. But, uh, it does, it's a huge difference.

tom: And one of the reasons, I think you just said that. It's one of the reasons why we, I love to ride motorcycles. Is because of that experience. Yeah. Yeah.~ Um, ~

Statistic 4 - Alcohol Related Motorcycle Accidents

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tom: I don't think number four is a shock. Uh, uh, Alcohol impaired motorcycle crashes 43 percent of fatal single vehicle motorcycle crashes involve alcohol.

tom: I mean I don't want to say duh, but [00:06:00] like, I guess, yeah, don't, don't drink and drive in a car, in a motorcycle, on your bicycle, uh, scooter, on your horse. ~Um, ~none of them. I mean, that's just a bad idea. You're just not, you're not thinking straight. So I don't know if there's a horse Uber, but whatever it is, don't do it.

tom: Period. Yeah.

Statistic 5 - Night Riding Motorcycles

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tom: This was interesting because it's kind of, it can be a misleading stat slightly, but number five, nighttime motorcycle riding, it says 37 percent of motorcycle deaths will occur at night. ~Um, ~so the first thing is, is like, well then you must ride in the day or, you know, daytime is more risky than night, but a lot more people, uh, excuse me, less people ride at night.

tom: So, I mean, I think. If, if you could, there's probably nobody track how many people ride at night versus right during the day. But for the most part, just visually speaking, when you're driving around at night, you're not seeing as many motorcycles as you are [00:07:00] in a given day. So it's just, there's just a lot more risk factors and we'll talk about lighting,~ um,~ here in a minute.

tom: ~Um, ~but the more lights like it isn't, that's probably bad, say night and day difference, but, but. Having proper lighting, whether it's in the car or on the bike is imperative to like Quality night writing. I mean, yeah,

Todd: I I feel like people see motorcycles from the front. Usually the front lights are It's plenty lit now as much as they do in the day or night People still don't look for motorcycles.

Todd: So we're we're invisible most of the time Yeah, but from the rear there's a big difference on the front Motorcycle versus another some motorcycles are really lit up in the back. Others have one single small red tail light. Yeah

tom: There's some very inconspicuous LED lighting now. I mean LED lighting has changed so much Even just where your license [00:08:00] plate mounts it almost can't LEDs that when you hit that brake lever because that's when you're gonna Trouble ensues when people are really on your bumper And with the with those Devices or those lights man, they really light up I mean and you you catch it because it's You see some of the cars doing this now when the brake goes on you get like a triple blink on the taillight

Yeah,

tom: and these will do that, you know triple blink triple blink and that really does catch the eye more of a strobe strobe effect so I think Riding at night definitely more dangerous.

tom: I kind of enjoy it sometimes but You do have to make sure you have. Proper lighting. I think that helps make that better

Statistic 6 - Age of Motorcycle Rider

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tom: This is kind of an interesting stat. It really just talks about motorcycle riders age and like and fatalities that go with it So they kind of look at both ends of the spectrum 25 to 34 and 50 and older so you have what is that 16 years?

tom: [00:09:00] That's not not a problem But I mean that account for the highest motorcycle fatalities Uh, 60 percent 36, excuse me, percent of the deaths happen in the 50 and older crowd.

Hmm. 25

tom: and 34 I'm presuming is really just, Hey, you're young. It's probably early. You know, most people don't get a bike much before 25 years old.

tom: They're riding more powerful motorcycles because those are the cool ones. I mean, I think that makes sense, you know, and we'll talk about some training in a minute, but, and then I think, you know, So those I think just hopefully people are thinking about training ~um ~and 50 and older, I think you just got to gut check once in a while, it's like if if you're you know you hate to say see a doctor to see if they'll let you a motorcycle because mine would probably never tell me to but Right, but I mean honestly, you just got to gut check I think right?

tom: I mean like if you can't Hold the bike up if you're having troubles if you're not strong enough if you're not mentally enough if your Medications that you're on are [00:10:00] not proper for that. I think you just got to be careful, but people ride well into their 80s I mean,

Todd: yeah, yeah, they do and you know, there's there's all kinds of factors that affect balance, you know inner ear Issues and things like that.

Todd: So yeah, I really think that you got to check yourself. Yeah, or talk Look out for your friends.

tom: Well, and that's just it too. I mean, I know though Also, like we've changed our pace as we've gotten older We've changed what we do and I think the people that I know that ride are that old. They just they're not going as far They're not going as fast.

tom: They're just being careful I mean, I think that makes sense, but it is a real concern in general I think you just have to kind of box box this box this one in hmm. Yeah ~Um ~

Statistic 7 - Motorcycle Accidents at Intersections

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tom: I don't think this is a surprise, but 35 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes occur at intersections Uh failure to yield yield. I mean you see the car crashes that happen there and I mean it is harder to see motorcycles period I [00:11:00] mean, ~um ~So that comes back to the the section about night driving more lights I have no I have some very nice extra lights on my motorcycle ~um ~There is zero doubts that people see me more now because of those lights.

tom: Yeah, and that's it I mean it they're bright and I don't even have them turned up all maximum brightness during the day But it's something about that extra set of lights. It's just no doubt about it. Oh

Todd: Yeah, one of the things that I noticed that I do and I don't know if I I've always done this, but I, I try to make eye contact, especially when I'm coming to an intersection and someone can turn left in front of me.

Todd: I try to make eye contact, make sure you see me right before I try and go through this intersection.

tom: I do that. And I also watch the wheels. Like, so like the tires start moving, then I'm more cautious. And I'll flick my,~ um,~ you know, bright lights. When I flick my bright lights, the, the whole sons of thunder come out with the, uh, with these lights.

tom: So it does, I mean, it, [00:12:00] it, it's startling. It's, it's not bright, but, and we'll talk about this also here soon, but distracted drivers with self since the age of cell phones, man, people are, you see it all the time and they're just looking down and roaming around. I mean, It's bad. It's,

Todd: well, it's drivers in cars, but it's also drivers on motorcycles.

Todd: Anything.

tom: We're addicted to the, you know, that, that phone. One little ding and, I mean, I will be, I tell you I'm so happy that the Android Auto and the CarPlays have come out because you can interact with the phone while your head's up You know, I like it when they shut that features down. It's, it's a good thing.

Statistic 8 - Motorcycle License and Training

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tom: Number eight is kind of a positive of these negatives, I guess This isn't this isn't positive but motorcycle licensing and motorcycle training 36 percent of motorcyclists Involved in a fatal crash don't have a valid motorcycle license to Wow And I guess I don't know [00:13:00] in Iowa where we live. It doesn't take much to get a motorcycle license but It's, I mean, it's pretty minor.

tom: ~Um, ~you can take a test and then you can do a small driving test to get a motorcycle license. I mean, And the worst part of it is, is you have to turn around in a fairly limited size box. I think it's 10, 10 feet, maybe

Todd: probably a little more than that, but well, yeah,

tom: it's a

Todd: three sided

tom: box. You gotta go deep into it.

tom: Right. Like I think they, if you Google like the Chicago box, I think is what it's called and you go in, you have to turn around doing, you turn it in that,~ um,~ along with that writers with the proper licensing and training are 23 percent less likely to be involved in an accident. And so. That's pretty good statistics.

tom: I mean because you got to know that sometimes it's not their fault So the people are so when you're get when you're licensed and when you're trained you're much less likely to be involved in an accident That's kind of proof in the pudding there. I would say I mean you and I have both taken I've taken the basic class That's how I got my license [00:14:00] in the first place.

tom: And then you and I both think an advanced writer class And I believe that day that we took it, there was probably 15 bikes, 18 maybe at the most. And if I remember correctly, there was three motorcycles there that like passed in my opinion. Like could do all the things. That was scary. It was. ~Um, ~that was eye opening.

tom: So this is people that want to get better that still aren't, That great they're licensed already. They're already licensed. They rode that bike, too I made sure I left either before them or waited well after them It was scary. I mean it was a small and a lot of this testing was slow maneuvering so it's not like um, Like the box the turnaround u turn that we talked about that's not part of a That you wouldn't see, you know, out on the highway, but high speed cornering when people don't want to learn to like how to lean the bike.

tom: I mean, the physics of motorcycles are very interesting. There's gyroscopic things going on and you know, your momentum and your speed actually helps [00:15:00] maintain your verticality. I mean, so wow. If, if you, if, I mean, you see it when you watch these crash videos, anytime you see a crash video and someone is like more or less going straight off of a curve.

tom: It's because they have an understanding how motorcycles work. When you turn opposite, which is the weirdest thing in the world to do in a motorcycle, you're reducing the diameter of your wheel, which makes it shorter and you turn in. That's why the motorcycle tires are cupped. It's amazing, but that's how you turn corners, you know, and people, you see them fighting to make, to try to do the opposite of what they need to do.

tom: And it's, it's, it's not funny, but it is kind of interesting. So. Any thoughts about the training or, or licensing? I mean,

Todd: no, if you haven't taken an advanced course, I would recommend it. They're, they're great. Yeah.

tom: Yeah.

Todd: Advanced writers courses

tom: are wonderful.

Statistic 9 - Urban vs Rural Motorcycle Accidents

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tom: Uh, number nine makes sense. I think in two, two points, it's ~um, ~motorcycle riding in [00:16:00] urban versus rural areas.

tom: 61 percent of the fatalities occur in urban areas. I mean, there's just more. Total people there. So you have more opportunities to Get into a multi vehicle crash. I think just more traffic more problems um I mean, I don't know that that's Surprising to me. No, I

Todd: would say in rural areas. You might have more objects on the road true dead animals Yes, and things have dropped off of vehicles, but definitely more

tom: people

Todd: I

tom: mean urban area when we plan our trips a lot of times we plan if we're gonna be in an urban area to ride On the interstate if we're bypassing but I will tell you this It's very difficult for motorcycles to maintain.

tom: Like if we have a group of four or five people and we're in a city, it's hard to stay together

Todd: very

tom: hard. And then the other thing that's hard is there's just so much going on. ~Um, ~but I think you have to level up your attention that you're paying because I mean, I've found myself distracted by [00:17:00] a driver, a car or something.

tom: And then I'm coming up hard on your backside or something like that. I think this is where we talk about the communicators, especially in urban areas, you can miss a turn and you're just saying, Hey, I'll catch you at the next corner or I'll do this or I'll do that. Otherwise you're, you're kind of. Almost paying too much attention to the crowd than the the traffic at hand and you know So I would say just be very careful, especially when you're off the interstate in urban areas.

tom: I mean, I think Urban areas are not as safe as as as rule and then on top of that like Streets in urban areas are much worse than interstates in urban areas would be what I would say. Yeah, would you agree with that? Absolutely. Yeah

Statistic 10 - Distracted Drivers

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tom: And then the big one, I think we've mentioned this before, but, uh, the number ten, the worst thing for motorcycle riders is distracted drivers.

tom: One in four motorcycle crashes is caused by distracted car drivers who don't see the motorcycle. Uh, that's [00:18:00] wrong.~ Um, ~I think there's just so, I mean, the cars are so nice. It's so nice in there. You know, you have all the comforts of home. I mean, I, I tend to watch Netflix or, you know,

Todd: I got to catch up. Well, I mean, they are, they're quiet inside, you know, and the stereos are very nice.

tom: Yes. Yeah. So I think. It's it's not a surprise I think and then texting cell phones touch screens and just the fatigue I think we're all fatigued anymore and it's just never never good.

Todd: Yeah, I know that I've been in my car and And not seen motorcycles. I haven't caused any wrecks right never hit me, but I did I did Stop at an intersection one time look both directions pulled out made my turn and after I made my turn, there was a motorcycle like right there.

Todd: And I thought, how did I not see him? You didn't have to slow down, but the next car didn't see him either. And I saw in my side view and my rear view mirror, a [00:19:00] car pulled out in front of him. He hit one over the top. He was okay. Cause he got up immediately. He was throw up, throw up his arms and he was yelling at the car driver.

Todd: ~Um, ~but how we both missed him was we looked to the left and there was, Uh, trees, uh, up the road, it was a hill, and he blended

tom: in with those trees, just perfect. Well, and I, you know, I find myself doing that sometimes too. I'm watching the car that's in front of me, when I'm in a car, I'm watching the car that's in front of me instead of doing my own decision making.

tom: So you make a bad choice, and then I'm like, hey, you know, let me go, I think that's one. You and I have also agreed that, like, I think you have to ride like you're invisible. You have to protect yourself when you're riding a motorcycle, so that, like, you have to assume that no one can see you. And if you ride like that, it's not maybe quite the rules.

tom: It's maybe your turn to turn, but I don't want to get into a fight with your car and my motorcycle. And cars are getting bigger, too, so, like, I mean, it's worse and [00:20:00] worse, I think, to get in an accident.

BMR Toolkit

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This is a section we call the toolkit. We share motorcycle gear, gear review, and other riding tips.

tom: for the toolkit today, Todd, maybe we can wrap this thing up and seeing like, what are the things and some of these we've mentioned, but what things can we do to, you know, improve.

tom: Uh, you know, as riders and make it as safe as it can be because we don't want it to be too spooky, right? So just building rider skills. I mean,

Todd: yeah, the advanced rider Motorcycle rider courses in your area. Look at the community colleges look at You know Harley dealerships Harley dealerships will list them It's worth it.

Todd: Take one. You'll enjoy it. You'll learn something.

tom: I think the three things always is turning You Kind of learning to turn in high speed because it's scary at first. ~Um, ~just emergency stops. Those two things are my top two. Just practice stopping, like on your own. Just get out on a country road and [00:21:00] practice that quick stop because it feels funny.

tom: I mean, you got to know when your rear brake is going to lock up. If you don't have anti lock brakes, you got to know these things. More front brake is usually it's scary because you think oh, i'm gonna flip the motorcycle over It's it's really hard to flip a motorcycle. Yeah, and when you

Todd: when you mentioned high speed turns, uh, You know, you see a lot of crashes come because a turn happens and someone ends up going straight Yeah, because they don't want to really push and lean into it.

Todd: It's almost like they don't trust the tires You should it is scary. Yeah, you should try and uh, you know practice some higher speed

tom: Yes

Todd: cornering and turning maybe in a big parking lot or an area that there's not cars just to see You And I don't say push it too far No Your tires will

tom: stick a lot better than you think they might Well, the funny thing about motorcycle tires is when you get into the turn you actually have more tire on the road Yeah, there's more surface area.

tom: So yeah, and then just like we said riding defensively,~ um,~ you know and so, uh The second thing and you and I are big proponents. Not everyone is and that's a choice. It's just safety gear. I mean [00:22:00] high quality gear ~Um, ~

Todd: yeah, I don't wear gloves as As much as you do. I have some finger tip or less, less. There you go.

Todd: Fingerless gloves and,~ um,~ but always a helmet, you know, the jacket, you know, and,~ um,~ I've got body armor in my jacket, but if I were to, you know, Put on just like a flannel or a sweatshirt or something. I don't have that armor, but

tom: Well, we just interviewed, you know Kristen from bond body armor and I tried it out on this recent day trip and it was unbelievable and I'm not so sure that I didn't Get less fatigued with it too as well.

tom: So I'm more I'm interested to try that out again But boy, I mean when you have good armor on though, it doesn't Get as scary when you're going into the curbs, too I mean, it's like you kind of it's a little bit makes you feel more confident Which is good. It reduces injuries if that thing happens and it's just I don't know.

tom: ~Um, ~I feel good about knowing that if even if I crash the next day I can go back and do [00:23:00] what I need to do ~Um ~when you're riding wearing the right gear, it's really most times ~um, ~it's just a It's an accident and only the bike gets hurt, which is what we're looking for.

Todd: Yeah.

tom: ~Um, ~you talk a lot about motorcycle maintenance, but you know, it's important even in this, which seems kind of weird, but, uh, I think you've mentioned before when, if you have a, a break that's sticking or, you know, something that's loose.

tom: You can sometimes pay attention to that stuff, as opposed to the road, get distracted,~ um,~ and that's not good.

Todd: Yeah, and maintaining the proper tire pressure, low tire pressure in your front wheel can actually make some wobble happen in that front end.

tom: That's scary. And weight balance from front to back.

tom: We've talked about it a number of times. When you're going on a trip, you're usually packing more than if you were just running down to the grocery store. So you You need to make sure you know what that weight difference does on your particular motorcycle. Because you can stiffen, you can stiffen shacks in the back [00:24:00] on some bikes and make some adjustments.

tom: But yeah, and then just plain old route planning. I mean, if you don't like to ride in urban areas, then go around, you know, unless you have to. There's no, you don't have to go through towns. I mean, I suggest people ride the interstates through towns a lot of times. Because just, I mean, if you go on Old Route number 12, Old Route 12 is driving right down through Memphis, you know, or whatever town, right?

tom: And that's terrible. Like, getting in traffic in motorcycles is terrible. Because I don't like it. We've been on in rain and in a dead stop traffic on the interstate and I hate it Yeah, because i'm always afraid that someone's coming up behind you, you know to hit you so lastly, I think Once you've made your choice that you're gonna ride motorcycles just embrace it and have fun because that's why we're doing it There's always respects Excuse me.

tom: There's always risks. We'll respect the risk, but gosh I wouldn't want to not do it. Yeah. No, absolutely. Yeah All right [00:25:00] That's a long one. Yeah If you like the podcast today, please like and subscribe or sign up for our bmr rider alerts It's our way of keeping you in the loop and we promise no spam keep the

Todd: spirit of adventure alive and remember Bikes friends and endless roads the stories ride forever.

Todd: Take care