Motorcycle Accidents and Information

A new law allowing motorcycle riders to roll through red lights is a step in the right direction but still not a solution to the problem...

2012-01-11T08:42:00.001-05:00

The new law allowing motorcycle riders to treat red lights like stop signs will make life easier for bikers but still falls short when it comes to safety.

"We're telling everybody to wait 120 seconds" before passing through a red light even if there is no visible oncoming traffic, said Brian Wendholt, the legislative coordinator for the Will County chapter of ABATE, a motorcycle advocacy organization.

Starting Jan. 1, motorcycle riders in Illinois — outside Cook County — got the green light to roll through red lights after stopping and checking for oncoming traffic.

The new law was prompted by stoplight sensors failing to detect motorcycles due to their relative lack of iron content compared to cars, said Wendholt, a Shorewood resident.

When the sensors fail to recognize a vehicle waiting to proceed, the light does not turn green. Wendholt said he had that happen to him at the intersection of River Road and Route 52, and that he has planned his motorcycle trips around red lights due to the sensor problems.

If he did not, Wendholt said, "You'd have to make a series of right turns to get where you want to go."

While the law does benefit motorcycle riders, Wendholt said, he would prefer to see traffic engineers improve the sensors so they recognize the smaller vehicles. He said he has been told this is a possibility.

"It depends on what traffic engineer you talk to," Wendholt said.

Guy Tridgell, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said, "We continue to make improvements to our traffic signal operations all the time. The technology is constantly improving."

But Wendholt's complaint is not one often made to IDOT, Tridgell said.

"It's not common that we hear of the problem that motorcycles are unable to trigger traffic signals," he said. "More experienced riders seem to be more knowledgeable about where the sensors are located."

Wendholt disagreed.

"I've been riding for 20-plus years," he said. "There's certain bikes where you could place it anywhere in that loop and it won't detect it."

Wendholt was also concerned that law enforcement may not be fully aware of the new law and that motorcycle riders could wind up with unwarranted traffic charges.

Source: http://shorewood-il.patch.com/articles/motorcycle-group-finds-new-law-lacking

How to be Seen on Motorcycles

2012-01-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

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"I never saw the rider" is one of the most common things automobile drivers say after they've struck a motorcyclist, an unfortunate reflection on how easy it is for riders to slip under the radar. Here are tips on how to stay visible while you ride.

The first and most obvious way to avoid being hit is to stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles and give yourself enough room to react. Ways to do so include:

Making sure you can see the drivers of the cars around you; if you can see them (through eye contact or in their mirrors), chances are you're in their line of sight... but never assume anything.
Creating a safety buffer around you, which means leaving enough distance ahead of you, and giving yourself space to maneuver away from trouble.
Avoid lingering in the blind spots created by the A-pillars and C-pillars of cars; those are the front 3/4 and rear 3/4 angle views out of the driver seat. Passing can be a dangerous maneuver, so be especially aware when overtaking a car or another rider.
If you're riding with a group, be sure to leave a safe distance around you, and ride in a staggered formation for maximum visibility.

Automatic Crash Reporting for Your Smart Phone

2011-12-16T09:12:00.000-05:00

For a few years now people wandering about the planet unattended have been able to carry GPS emergency locating devices. Should something bad happen they can put a button on the unit and the system will send an emergency message to the appropriate people. The draw back was/is that units are in the $100 and up price range and require an annual a subscription service. Now there is a free alternative for those with an Android based smartphone.

The excellent people at ActionXL, who create Android operating system applications for business, have created a free app for Android phones. The app, called CRADAR, uses your smart phone's motion sensor to sense a jarring movement, like say, oh, a motorcycle crash. The app then sends a text message complete with GPS coordinates to whatever phone number you've specified. For those of us who ride alone and often in rural or remote areas, CRADAR provides a degree of security should things all go wrong.

I wrote my brother: "If you don’t mind, I’m going to put your phone number in there for the text message. I’m going to use the app when I'm riding so if I take a fall you’ll know and can quickly fly to Arizona and help me pick the bike up or call 911, whichever is easier."

If you have a smart phone using the Android operating system you'll find the app in the Android Market Place. A big tip of the helmet to the folks a ActionXL for providing a great safety tool for motorcyclists, bicyclists, hikers, and others out and about.

Assume you're invisible.

2011-11-28T09:51:00.001-05:00

While there are many ways to stay visible on a bike, it's also helpful to think about motorists around you as oblivious to your presence. Even if it's your right of way, don't assume a car won't cut you off; even if you've made eye contact with a driver, don't bet the farm that he or she won't make a sudden move that puts you in jeopardy. And finally, keep a finger over your brake lever at all times just in case emergency avoidance maneuvers are required... and remember: only the paranoid survive.

15 RIDING SIGNALS BIKERS SHOULD KNOW!

2011-10-31T11:32:00.000-04:00

10 THINGS TO DO DURING OFF SEASON

2011-10-27T13:13:00.002-04:00

Even though the weather is turning cooler, you don't have to cover up your motorcycle and store it away until the spring. There are many things you can do as a biker to continue your way of life all year long. We've compiled our top 10 biker projects for the off-season.

Take a Motorcycle Safety Course – Search your area or local DMV for a motorcycle safety course schedule. It's important to have a refresher on motorcycle safety, and you can hone your bike handling skills. Even if there isn't one until the spring, many places will allow you to register months ahead of time. Upgrade yourself first!
Look for New Riding Gear – If yours is getting a bit old, or no longer doing what it's supposed to do, it may be time to upgrade. Many times motorcycle attire is on sale during the off-season. View our article on choosing proper riding attire for more information.
Tune up Your Bike – Check and test all parts of your motorcycle to be sure it's running as safely and efficiently as possible.
Change the Seat – It's a great way to make your ride more comfortable, especially if you go on a lot of group rides or cross-country tours. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on this subject.
Review Your Insurance Policy – Now is the time to review your insurance policy and decide whether you should upgrade your coverage. Remember, accidents can happen any place, anytime, and anywhere. It's best to be prepared and protect your financial security – before it's too late.
Customize Your Motorcycle Helmet – Having a one-of-a-kind helmet is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself as a biker. There are many things you can do, while still making sure it falls within the Department of Transportation standards.
Winterize Your Motorcycle – There are dozens of articles out there that tell you step-by-step how to prepare your bike for the winter, how to protect it from snow and ice, and how to store it – if you choose to do so.
Join a Local Motorcycle Group – Being a biker is a way of life, and there's no better way to share it than to spend time in the motorcycle culture. Look up local groups and see what they have to offer – group rides, rallies, resources, training courses, apparel discounts, tutorials on customizing your bike, and more.
Look into Purchasing a New Bike – If you're thinking you want to get a new motorcycle, the off-season is a great time to do your research and find the one that's right for you. It also gives you plenty of time to review the safety features of each model and see what options are available for customizing it.
Install a Camera – In a few weeks we'll share with you more information on the benefits of installing a camera, where to mount it, and the types you can choose. It's a way to relive your biking experiences, but it also can capture live footage if you're ever in an accident, and can provide valuable evidence.

2011-10-26T10:45:00.002-04:00

I know this is a bit of a toss up...Brake Light Modules. Do you flash your brake lights? Either way, everyone seems to have an opinion about these. We have researched and come up with the top 3 reasons a rider should take 30 minutes out of their weekend sometime this winter to install a BackOFF.

1. Visibility, the most important thing when you're riding on a vehicle that is 1/8 the size of a passenger vehicle. They rarely see us until they're right up on us or cutting us off and we have to release a middle finger.

2. Usability, Easy to install, simple and easy to understand instructions on how the product works and you can easily disable if you're riding in a group, or it just isn't necessary at the time.

3. Proven, In a recent poll brake light modules deferred 70% more accidents. Including scenario's of passenger vehicles turning left in front of motorcycles, and merging in front of them.

Luxy Future Fashion helmet

2011-10-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

Helmet hair is a problem that every non-bald biker faces. Male or female, it's hard to keep the doo looking new after a long ride. Luckily for the fashion conscience, Daniel Don Chang has created a helmet that will keep you looking beautiful mile after mile.

The Luxy helmet was inspired by "mod girls and fashion hairstyles" by Chang, a product designer from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Chang says that the Luxy helmet is targeted toward woman scooter riders and he hopes that his design will increase helmet use.

"Luxy is a women's motorcycle helmet for commuting and casual motorcycle riding. Its purpose is to increase helmet use. As many riders are female, the distinctive and unique look sets it apart from existing helmets, proving that style and safety can coexist," Chang writes on his website.

The helmet isn't being produced for consumer consumption yet, but it is an interesting idea. A lot of people don't wear helmets because of the way they look. Maybe a little fashion influence is what's needed to increase helmet use.

What do you think?

2011-10-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

Beating a path for a blog, safety...Lets shy away for a minute to show off a really awesome website for anyone and everyone to go and find their nearest biker bar!

www.bars4bikers.com Like them on facebook and follow them on twitter. Even suggest new bars that you may frequest but are not yet present on their list!

Bungee's are Dangerous

2011-08-29T09:53:00.002-04:00

Most of us have at least one set (usually far more) of bungee cords and/or stretch nets to help us secure items to our bikes when we travel. Even with large luggage compartments on some bikes, the bungee cord/stretch net need exists as these are used to secure items that will not fit into those compartments (tents, folding chairs, Christmas presents ...)You should realize that one of the most frequent forms of injury to motorcyclists is damage or loss of an eye - from a bungee cord or net that breaks or slips from your hand while trying to attach or detach it from the bike.Eye protection is NECESSARY when handling bungee cords and stretch nets but may be essentially useless against the impact of one of the metal ends of a bungy cord that snaps directly into your eye.When you remove whatever you have secured to your bike with those cords, REMOVE the cord(s) right then and there! (At least reattach it so that it cannot come loose even without that item.) It is oh so easy to fail to notice a dangling cord when you start your next ride. A dangling bungee cord wants nothing more than to find a way to wrap itself around your rear axle and the odds are good that you and the bike will not find that a pleasant experience if it's successful in its quest.

Wear a helmet...be smart

2011-08-16T14:00:00.002-04:00

Motorcycle Helmet Tips - Street Survival
Hard-Headed - November 2006

This spring, when Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger collided with a car that turned left in front of him, breaking his face and causing a concussion, it triggered a media uproar about the need for helmet laws. Few remarked on the irony or hypocrisy of the situation, the fact that the soapboxes came out when a sports star merely sustained recoverable injuries, but not when dozens of other riders in the same state died because they weren't wearing helmets. The life and death of Joe Rider apparently doesn't much interest editors and readers of general-interest publications, but the chance that a star quarterback might not be fit for football season is a big deal, one that should be prevented with helmet laws or even banning all players from riding motorcycles, as some teams do.The press devoted much less attention to the revelation that Roethlisberger, who had previously said he didn't believe he needed a helmet because he rode carefully, didn't even have a license. Riding without a license isn't smart. In fact, unlicensed riders are more likely to crash than those who get properly licensed. In Pennsylvania, you have to be licensed before you can ride without a helmet. So not only is riding without a license not smart, it's also breaking the law. One witness to the accident reportedly said the quarterback seemed to be looking somewhere other than at the car that was preparing to turn left, which also doesn't sound very wise.No one paid much attention to the guy who said that even if there had been a helmet law and Roethlisberger had been wearing a helmet as a result, it might not have made a lot of difference....(go to http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/0612_crup_motorcycle_safety/viewall.html to finish reading about Ben Roethlisberger.)

And there have been a few days when that decision has kept me from being wiped out for good.Riding a motorcycle isn't dangerous,but crashing is. Sooner or later, most riders crash. Once that event begins, the only decision that matters on a life-changing level is whether or not you chose to wear a good helmet.

No matter what we ride, where our final destination, or the path we choose to get there, every motorcyclist shares the same common thread when throwing a leg over their machine. It’s the exhilarating search for adventure that draws us to the road, and SHOEI’s all-new QWEST embodies what every rider seeks to experience along the way. Revolutionary noise-reduction technology, unsurpassed long-distance comfort, advanced ventilation performance, a light-weight, balanced fit and feel, and over 50 years of helmet-building experience have combined to deliver the finest touring helmet known to man. The all-new, groundbreaking QWEST—It’s your journey… Enjoy every mile of it.

Be Noticed, Be Seen, Be Safe Folks...

INTRODUCTION

2011-08-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

Whether you're novice or experienced – about operating a motorcycle safely.

Your enjoyment, and your safety, depends on mastering not only the art of motorcycling but also the realities of the traffic around you.

SaferMoto.com with Motorcycle Safety in Mind

2011-07-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

Airbag safety technology has entered the world of motorcycle racing with SaferMoto.com, distributor of innovative inflatable jackets and vests for motorcycle riders and racers. Insurrection Racing now has partnered with SaferMoto.com to offer its safety products and to create a co-branded racing suit.

SaferMoto.com, distributor of innovative inflatable motorcycle rider safety vests using airbag technology, and Insurrection Racing, maker of performance motorcycle leathers and accessories, have announced a partnership agreement to promote safer riding, whether on the street or the track.

Insurrection now carries the SaferMoto line of protective gear in their Seattle and Thunderhill Raceway, Willows, California stores. In addition, the company has designed a full one-piece customized co-branded Insurrection-SaferMoto racing suit by PILOT USA, a leading motorcycle suit manufacturer. Insurrection is offering discounts on the suit and the entire Insurrection line for SaferMoto customers.

“Seeing our vests in action at the track, Insurrection staff immediately recognized their value for competitive riders,” said Alan Cunningham, CEO of SaferMoto.com. “We at SaferMoto.com are elated about partnering with Insurrection Racing, a company that shares our core values of quality and safety,” he added.

Insurrection CEO Wade Bundy said, "From the moment we were approached by Alan Cunningham of SaferMoto, we knew we wanted to be a part of the SaferMoto endeavor. We wholeheartedly back the SaferMoto project of building the world's most advanced line of motorcycle safety wear. We design PILOT USA-manufactured SaferMoto leathers to complement their vests and jackets and want to work with all SaferMoto riders, whether racers, track day riders or street riders."

For more information, please contact SaferMoto.com at 877-250-6686 or sales(at)SaferMoto(dot)com or visithttp://www.SaferMoto.com. To view Insurrection’s line of motorcycle leathers and accessories, visithttp://www.insurrectionracing.com.

About SaferMoto.com: SaferMoto.com was created to offer motorcyclists and equestrians the safest possible experience, whatever their level of performance or competition. The company, based in Sparks, NV, distributes a full line of Hit-Air vests and jackets using advanced airbag technology to offer an unparalleled level of protection to riders of all ages. These products now are used by the Tokyo Police Department and in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Motorcycle Stats

2011-07-11T09:46:00.002-04:00

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006,
13.10 cars out of 100,000
ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is
72.34 per 100,000
registered motorcycles.Motorcycles also have a higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled when compared with automobiles. Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists' risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater than a passenger car. In 2004, figures from the UK Department for Transport indicated that motorcycles have 16 times the rate of serious injuries per 100 million vehicle kilometers compared to cars, and double the rate of bicycles.

10 things...

2011-07-08T12:39:00.000-04:00

Fatal Motorcycle Accident in California

2011-07-07T12:54:00.001-04:00

{By Susan Shroder, Reporter - Police & fire

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 9:56 p.m.

A 22-year-old man was killed Wednesday evening when the motorcycle he was riding went out of control and struck a tree, the California Highway Patrol said.

The name of the victim, who was riding a 2010 Kawasaki ZX10, was not yet released. He was in the military and lived in Temecula, said CHP Officer Chris Parent.

The accident was reported about 5:50 p.m. on E. Mission Road just east of So. Stagecoach Lane.
Witnesses told the CHP that the man was riding east on East Mission Road at a high rate of speed and was passing traffic. Due to the unsafe speed, the rider failed to negotiate a left curve in the road and his bike collided nearly head-on with the tree, Parent said. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, the CHP said.The road was closed for about 30 minutes following the accident. }

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL. ALL MOTORCYCLISTS OUT THERE BEWARE. WE PASS AND WEAVE AND SPEED, AND IT COSTS US. OUR LIVES ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO JEPARDIZE. IT IS VERY HARD TO FATHOM THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, BUT IT COULD AND MAY POSSIBLY, REGARDLESS OF FAULT.

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS, AND BE SAFE.

2 Oregonians killed in motorcycle crash

2011-07-06T13:44:00.000-04:00

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A motorcycle collided with a pickup truck turning left off of U.S. Highway 2 in northwestern Montana, killing the two Oregon residents on the motorcycle, the Montana Highway Patrol says.

The patrol says the pickup, which was pulling a camper, had slowed to turn left the highway near Libby shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday. The driver of the truck began his turn as a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle began passing the truck.
A 59-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from Salem, Ore., died in the crash. Their names haven't been released. The 42-year-old Kalispell man driving the truck and his 16-year-old passenger were not injured. The patrol is still investigating the crash, including whether the signals on the truck and trailer were working.

2011 copyright The Associated Press

Accidents

2011-07-01T11:55:00.000-04:00

Forks Township man killed in motorcycle crash in Poconos

I-90 closed overnight following fatal motorcycle accident

We need to think about our safety and the people who could be affected if we pass due to traveling on our motorcycles and not allowing other motorists the opportunity to completely see us. Without headlight and brakelight modules, we're almost as good as gone. Time to consider a safety upgrade.

2011-04-05T11:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter... enjoy some funny stuff while we approach riding season!