I wonder how much of a percentage of the overall traffic volume motorcycles are. I would guess something less than 1%.
I also wonder how much of the increased fatality rate can be laid at the feet of decreased helmet use and how much can be laid at the feet of increased SUV, cell phone, etc. use among the cager population.
Some predictions:
1. The government will try to use these statistics to reimpose helmet laws where they have been repealed.
2. More radical elements will try to get bikes banned for "safety" reasons, and insurance companies will drop us like hot potatos.
3. They will completely ignore the fact that SUVs are just bloody dangerous as are the behaviour that too many cupholders encourages. They probably didn't collect any information about the physics of driving two tons of excess metal with a cell phone in one hand, a big mac in one hand, a cup of coffee in one hand, and uh... How many hands does that leave?
4. Nobody will actually get around to updating the Hurt report or studying non-fatal accidents.
5. Absolutely nobody will make any kind of official estimate of how many fewer fatalities there would be and how much imported oil we would'nt burn if motorcycle riders were 10% of traffic volume instead of 1%.
Ok. I'm going to take my medication now.
I also wonder how much of the increased fatality rate can be laid at the feet of decreased helmet use and how much can be laid at the feet of increased SUV, cell phone, etc. use among the cager population.
Some predictions:
1. The government will try to use these statistics to reimpose helmet laws where they have been repealed.
2. More radical elements will try to get bikes banned for "safety" reasons, and insurance companies will drop us like hot potatos.
3. They will completely ignore the fact that SUVs are just bloody dangerous as are the behaviour that too many cupholders encourages. They probably didn't collect any information about the physics of driving two tons of excess metal with a cell phone in one hand, a big mac in one hand, a cup of coffee in one hand, and uh... How many hands does that leave?
4. Nobody will actually get around to updating the Hurt report or studying non-fatal accidents.
5. Absolutely nobody will make any kind of official estimate of how many fewer fatalities there would be and how much imported oil we would'nt burn if motorcycle riders were 10% of traffic volume instead of 1%.
Ok. I'm going to take my medication now.