Common Safety Myths Can Cause More Harm than Good to Motorcyclists - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

Rony · 04-07-2011, 03:19 PM

Just sharing a nice article about safety of Motorcyclists. It is not in context of Indian Riders but many of the points jolted down here are universal.

April 07, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- There are many misunderstandings circulating about the best ways for motorcycle riders to avoid being involved in accidents with other cars. In some cases, these myths about motorcycle accidents can do more harm than good -- and put motorcyclists' lives at risk.

Motorcycle riders are eight times more likely than those in passenger vehicles to be seriously injured in an accident and 35 times more likely to die in an accident. With these statistics in mind, it is important for motorcyclists to know the best ways to protect their safety - and what legal options they have when someone else harms them.

The Problem of Not "Seeing" Motorcycle Riders
Despite public perception, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is not motorcycle riders, but other drivers. Two-thirds of all collisions between motorcyclists and passenger vehicles are caused by the passenger vehicle driver. These accidents usually happen when the passenger vehicle fails to yield the right-of-way to the motorcyclist or the driver doesn't see the motorcyclist and hits him or her.

One of the ways that some motorcyclists try to compensate for drivers who cannot see them is to make sure that they can hear them. There is a myth that the louder the bike, the safer the rider will be because cars will hear it coming. The problem, however, is that the noise is carried to the rear of the motorcycle so that vehicles in front of the rider - and those who are most likely not to see the rider and cause the accident - will not benefit from a loud bike.

There are much more effective ways to ensure that motorists see motorcycles than to modify the bike's exhaust system. For example, motorcyclists can wear bright colors to draw attention to themselves. They also can try to avoid other motorists' blind spots and to increase the following distance between themselves and other vehicles whenever possible.

Other Common Safety Myths
Some of the other common safety myths that can hurt motorcyclists include:

Motorcyclists who know what they are doing won't get hurt: There is no amount of training or experience that can prevent all accidents from occurring. Motorcyclists cannot and will never be able to control the actions of other drivers, no matter how defensively or cautiously they operate their bikes.

One or two drinks will be ok: Even one drink is too many before riding a motorcycle. In New York in 2007, 26 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal accidents had blood alcohol content over the legal limit and another 37 percent had a BAC over 0.01%, or the equivalent of one drink. Add in the stiff penalties New York imposes on drunk drivers and it really isn't worth the risk to have a drink before riding.

It's better to stay off the interstate: Many believe that it is safer to ride their motorcycles on city streets where the speed limit is lower rather than on the interstate where traffic moves along at 70 miles per hour or more. But most motorcycle accidents - and fatalities - do not happen on the interstate. Motorcyclists are actually safer on interstates because the traffic is all moving in one direction and there are no side streets, driveways or intersections, minimizing the opportunity for other drivers to hit them.

Helmets cause injuries: The effectiveness of motorcycle helmets is one of the most hotly debated issues among motorcyclists. Some believe that helmets cause neck injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Others believe that they impair riders' ability to see and hear the traffic around them and still others believe that helmets will not protect them if they are in an accident at high speeds. Research has shown that helmeted riders survive more accidents than those who do not wear one, but even this research is controversial. Regardless of a motorcycle rider's views on helmet use, New York law requires all riders to wear them. Those who violate the law may be fined up to $100 and/or required to spend up to 30 days in jail.

Your Legal Options Following a Motorcycle Accident
Regardless of how safe a motorcycle rider is, there is nothing he or she can do to stop a negligent driver from causing an accident. However, there is something a motorcyclist can do after the accident - speak with an attorney.

Motorcycle riders can suffer serious and life-threatening injuries when they are hit by careless drivers, including head injuries, brain injuries, neck and back injuries, paralysis, amputations, fractures and soft tissue injuries. When a negligent driver causes these or other types of injuries, he or she should be held legally accountable.

An attorney experienced in representing motorcycle accident victims can help the injured motorcyclist file a civil claim against the responsible driver. Some of the types of compensation that may be available in a civil lawsuit include past, current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and costs to repair or replace the motorcycle.

For more information on your legal options following a motorcycle accident, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer today.

Visit us at www.bikerhelp.com

Source : Common Safety Myths Can Cause More Harm than Good to Motorcyclists - EIN News - News Media Monitoring

We can further discuss the topic and bust some common myths rampant in Indian society regarding safe bike riding.

sunilg · 04-08-2011, 10:23 AM

GBD approved.

Rony · 04-08-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunilg

GBD approved.

Thanks for the approval sunilg ... I would like you and OldFox Sir to jolt down few points, given your experience as Motorcyclist !

pulsater · 04-08-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rony

- It's better to stay off the interstate. Many believe that it is safer to ride their motorcycles on city streets where the speed limit is lower rather than on the interstate where traffic moves along at 70 miles per hour or more. But most motorcycle accidents - and fatalities - do not happen on the interstate. Motorcyclists are actually safer on interstates because the traffic is all moving in one direction and there are no side streets, driveways or intersections, minimizing the opportunity for other drivers to hit them.

Thanks for sharing the info Rony, but few of the points like above ain't correct as the article is based on US motorcyclist and their behavior. In India content, its actually opposite. In my recent findings, there are some interesting facts about Indian bikers/road users and related accidents.

1. In India, When highways are built, "there are always more accidents," said Atul Kumar, chief general manager of road safety with the National Highways Authority of India, part of Mr. Nath's ministry. People generally ride/drive faster on new highways making it more riskier and unsafe. For example, 60 per cent of road fatalities in India happen due to mishaps on the highways. The rest 40% occur in cities

Because, In spite of having the largest road network in the world, India still doesnt have a National Traffic Code like west. So even though the Goverment is building smooth wide roads, but very less is done to make highways safer.

Also, though its a bit OT, but still it's very interesting to know this fact: Dinesh Mohan (Prof in IIT Delhi,coordinator of WHO programme of Transport Research and Injury Prevention in India) termed present traffic management model based on road-widening and creating flyovers, as outdated. No European city has built a flyover in last 25 years and none has been built in the last 10 years in USA. In fact, USA has started dismantling flyovers, he said.

People (and Gov) thinks that flyovers ease the traffic flow and reduce risk of accident however this is not the case. there is always a jam either at the start or end of the flyover. Also, by the time a road or a flyover is finished in India the volume of traffic has already increased beyond its capacity.

princesirohi · 04-08-2011, 12:32 PM

@pulsater: if flyovers and road widening cause accidents and in western contries they have stopped building these a decade back. then what is the solution..............tell us that also.

maverick83 · 04-09-2011, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesirohi

@pulsater: if flyovers and road widening cause accidents and in western contries they have stopped building these a decade back. then what is the solution..............tell us that also.

Common sense combined with road sense will take you long... Wear bright clothes in night (not a yellow t-shirt but a reflective jersey), keep a check on your speed specially at night when we all what to beat the crap out of rossi.

follow the 4 sec rule (in India it's impractical as the asshole next to me sees it as an opportunity to put his twisted rikchaw in between)

Don't ride in the blind spots . If you can see the side view mirror of the vehicle in front , they can spot as well.

Indicate every time you want to change lanes.... lol (sorry couldn't hold it any longer)

do this n you'll be safe.....

pulsater · 04-09-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesirohi

@pulsater: if flyovers and road widening cause accidents and in western contries they have stopped building these a decade back. then what is the solution..............tell us that also.

second and last OT post:
Neither me nor IIT professors say that wide roads and flyovers cause accident, but building a flyover seems to be the regular "ineffective" solution gov is using to tackle dense traffic flow. My first OT was regarding the lack of National traffic code in India. Indian Highways are improving but there is still no acknowledgement of the issues and factor that make up them safe.

Rony · 04-09-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pulsater

Thanks for sharing the info Rony, but few of the points like above ain't correct as the article is based on US motorcyclist and their behavior. In India content, its actually opposite.

That is what I have mentioned in the very first line in blue-bold. Surely not all points could be related to what happens here in India and hence this thread to populate all such myths and bust them here ... Lets now concentrate on that !

BTW, I am not convinced with the argument that honking cannot be an effective method to get noticed by the person in car whom you are following. The sound is subject to what is known as Doppler's Effect and the speed of vehicle emitting it gets added to it resulting in change of pitch. But the sound still travels in the forward direction and not backward as suggested here. If that was the case how can we hear a train coming towards us??

Please correct me if I am wrong here !

Rony · 04-09-2011, 10:37 AM

Sharing another article !

Quote:

There is only so much you can do as a motorcyclist to stay safe on the road. And no matter how safe you are, no matter how much protective gear you wear, you’re still riding the smallest vehicle on the road without a seat belt, without airbags, and without walls protecting you from the pavement. Not to mention the thousand pound machines operated by distracted drivers that surround you on every side.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourages all riders to exercise caution on the road, but they also realize that car drivers need to do a little more to keep riders safe. Here are 10 things that the MSF says car drivers need to know about motorcycles.

Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve a four wheel vehicle, and most of the time, it’s the car that is at fault.
Since motorcycles are a lot smaller than cars, they can easily hide in a blind spot. Car drivers need to take an extra second to check mirrors and blind spots.
Since motorcycles are small, it can be hard to judge their distance and speed. Car drivers should remember that a motorcycle is usually closer than it appears.
Motorcycles often slow down by rolling off the throttle, and not necessarily by braking. Car drivers should give motorcycles a little bit more space, and realize that motorcycles may be slowing down without a visual warning.
A motorcycle changing position within a lane is usually doing so for a reason, either to avoid road debris, to get ready to pass a vehicle, or to minimize wind. A motorcycle moving within a lane does not mean that they are being reckless.
On most motorcycles, the turn signals will not turn off automatically. Some riders, usually beginners, may continue to ride after a turn with their signals on.
A motorcycle may be extremely maneuverable, but don’t expect a rider to be able to dodge out of the way.
Motorcycles have the same braking power as cars, but have a harder time braking on wet pavement.
When a motorcycle is in motion, cars should try to see more than the motorcycle. Try to put a face to the object.
Causing a crash with a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian, is something that is very hard for a car driver to forget.

The MSF makes a few good points, and the road would be a safer place if all car drivers knew the above items. But as a rider, you can’t expect them to know any of the above. In fact, as a rider, you should assume that car drivers are bad drivers.

But as long as we're making a wish list for what we hope car drivers knew about motorcycles, here are a few more.

You're phone call can wait. No one's that important.
Just because you can't hear the wind inside your car, that doesn't mean that you aren't moving. Driving a three ton machine at 70 MPH is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly.

Anything else you think car drivers should know?

Source : For Car Drivers: 10 Things You Need to Know About Motorcycles

Pinaki · 04-10-2011, 02:38 AM

One alarming trend I am noticing is young bikers now does not know or use correct hand signal for stop/slowdown and turns etc .

04-07-2011, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rony Enthu Tourer !! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Andheri, Amchi Mumbai !! Posts: 1,506	Common Safety Myths Can Cause More Harm than Good to Motorcyclists Just sharing a nice article about safety of Motorcyclists. It is not in context of Indian Riders but many of the points jolted down here are universal. April 07, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- There are many misunderstandings circulating about the best ways for motorcycle riders to avoid being involved in accidents with other cars. In some cases, these myths about motorcycle accidents can do more harm than good -- and put motorcyclists' lives at risk. Motorcycle riders are eight times more likely than those in passenger vehicles to be seriously injured in an accident and 35 times more likely to die in an accident. With these statistics in mind, it is important for motorcyclists to know the best ways to protect their safety - and what legal options they have when someone else harms them. The Problem of Not "Seeing" Motorcycle Riders Despite public perception, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is not motorcycle riders, but other drivers. Two-thirds of all collisions between motorcyclists and passenger vehicles are caused by the passenger vehicle driver. These accidents usually happen when the passenger vehicle fails to yield the right-of-way to the motorcyclist or the driver doesn't see the motorcyclist and hits him or her. One of the ways that some motorcyclists try to compensate for drivers who cannot see them is to make sure that they can hear them. There is a myth that the louder the bike, the safer the rider will be because cars will hear it coming. The problem, however, is that the noise is carried to the rear of the motorcycle so that vehicles in front of the rider - and those who are most likely not to see the rider and cause the accident - will not benefit from a loud bike. There are much more effective ways to ensure that motorists see motorcycles than to modify the bike's exhaust system. For example, motorcyclists can wear bright colors to draw attention to themselves. They also can try to avoid other motorists' blind spots and to increase the following distance between themselves and other vehicles whenever possible. Other Common Safety Myths Some of the other common safety myths that can hurt motorcyclists include: Motorcyclists who know what they are doing won't get hurt: There is no amount of training or experience that can prevent all accidents from occurring. Motorcyclists cannot and will never be able to control the actions of other drivers, no matter how defensively or cautiously they operate their bikes. One or two drinks will be ok: Even one drink is too many before riding a motorcycle. In New York in 2007, 26 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal accidents had blood alcohol content over the legal limit and another 37 percent had a BAC over 0.01%, or the equivalent of one drink. Add in the stiff penalties New York imposes on drunk drivers and it really isn't worth the risk to have a drink before riding. It's better to stay off the interstate: Many believe that it is safer to ride their motorcycles on city streets where the speed limit is lower rather than on the interstate where traffic moves along at 70 miles per hour or more. But most motorcycle accidents - and fatalities - do not happen on the interstate. Motorcyclists are actually safer on interstates because the traffic is all moving in one direction and there are no side streets, driveways or intersections, minimizing the opportunity for other drivers to hit them. Helmets cause injuries: The effectiveness of motorcycle helmets is one of the most hotly debated issues among motorcyclists. Some believe that helmets cause neck injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Others believe that they impair riders' ability to see and hear the traffic around them and still others believe that helmets will not protect them if they are in an accident at high speeds. Research has shown that helmeted riders survive more accidents than those who do not wear one, but even this research is controversial. Regardless of a motorcycle rider's views on helmet use, New York law requires all riders to wear them. Those who violate the law may be fined up to $100 and/or required to spend up to 30 days in jail. Your Legal Options Following a Motorcycle Accident Regardless of how safe a motorcycle rider is, there is nothing he or she can do to stop a negligent driver from causing an accident. However, there is something a motorcyclist can do after the accident - speak with an attorney. Motorcycle riders can suffer serious and life-threatening injuries when they are hit by careless drivers, including head injuries, brain injuries, neck and back injuries, paralysis, amputations, fractures and soft tissue injuries. When a negligent driver causes these or other types of injuries, he or she should be held legally accountable. An attorney experienced in representing motorcycle accident victims can help the injured motorcyclist file a civil claim against the responsible driver. Some of the types of compensation that may be available in a civil lawsuit include past, current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and costs to repair or replace the motorcycle. For more information on your legal options following a motorcycle accident, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer today. Visit us at www.bikerhelp.com Source : Common Safety Myths Can Cause More Harm than Good to Motorcyclists - EIN News - News Media Monitoring We can further discuss the topic and bust some common myths rampant in Indian society regarding safe bike riding. __________________ Please Contribute Weekend Getaways for Mumbai Tourers !!! Last edited by Old Fox; 04-08-2011 at 01:21 PM. Reason: A touch of formatting.

04-08-2011, 10:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
sunilg Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ghaziabad, UP, India. Posts: 5,075	GBD approved. __________________ (Been There Done That) x 3.25 Join xBhp On

04-08-2011, 12:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
princesirohi 18...till i die.. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Aamby Valley City, Lonavala, Pune, Maharashtra Posts: 3,344	@pulsater: if flyovers and road widening cause accidents and in western contries they have stopped building these a decade back. then what is the solution..............tell us that also. __________________ Tyre Sizes _ Spark Plugs Pirelli & Michelin Tyres for Indian Bikes Motorcycle Headlight Focus ASHTAVINAYAK & SHIRDI BIKE TOUR WITH WIFE

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04-10-2011, 02:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pinaki Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calcutta Posts: 885	One alarming trend I am noticing is young bikers now does not know or use correct hand signal for stop/slowdown and turns etc .

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