I know I'm kind of new here so I may be out of line for my rant , if so shrug me off as crazy . I've been away from bikes for awhile until recently when my son got me back into riding . It has become apparent the dangers for riders have increased dramaticly since I last rode . Today in the Indy Star there is an article about a 28 year old rider that was killed yesterday by a 17 year old girl that turned in front of him .
It's past time we (riders) force some help from the manufacturers ,AMA , after market industry, insurance industry and the federal gov't . These people are making millions off of us and when was the last time you saw any ads about motorcycle safety in the mainstream . I would like to see some in your face type of commercials (like the VW ads) being played on the major networks and I'm talking time slots that target the young drivers , soccer moms and the elderly . Awareness seems to be the key in most ad campains so the more you put this in front of people the safer we should be . I think all states should have questions about motorcycles on the written exam , I don't mean everyone has to know how to ride or build a bike but just undrstand how easy it is to take a rider out . Last but not least CELL PHONES , it doesn't take a very smart person to see cell phones are the cause of to many accidents and it's time for every state to make hands free the only acceptable form of use while driving and zero text messaging .
I know as a group of riders on a web forum we don't have much clout as individuals so the best way to get action is to pressure the manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers ect . If anyone is interested in this please post some ideas to help force the issue . I would like to see if we can get national or international attention by submitting a unified letter of what we expect from them (manufacturers and aftermarket) and then pick a date and ask anyone interested in this not make any kind of motorcycle purchase for a 48 hour period . We won't topple anyone's business but we will show how serious we are about this . There will always be accidents just like some people will continue to smoke and there will always drunk drivers but if we had a fourth of what is spent on those anti campains I think more of us will die of natural causes . Rant over

 

I am with you 100% except for the part about cell phone use. Any cell phone use while driving should be banned. the Problem is that Cell Phones are such a major part of the economy in this country that the FEDS are never going to do anything about them. You will have to slug it out state by state. Studies have shown that it is not necessarily the handling of the phone that is the distraction, but the actual conversation. Hands free is not the answer. Of course most young teenagers learn their lesson about cell phone use over time, one death at a time.

 

I agree.

 

I agree my wife seems to have her damn phone glued to her while she's driving and I'm relaxing in the passenger seat .Now she is not a bad driver she does scare me at this time.And she doesn't want to let me drive so she just continues to talk NEEDLESSLY while driving .I think she gets her oxygen from the damn thing.

 

I agree, as much as I need to use my cell all the time. If there was a law. it would give everyone an excuse to relax for a while without distraction.
At the very least they need to make it mandatory that car mfg's have installed in all vehicles a hands free system that would work for all phones..

 

I am in agreement with you, and you are not crazy.

 

Hands free doesn't have a thing to do with the fact that your brain is engaged in a a dueling exerciseeven if it isfriendly and your brain does not multi-task too well and therefore leaves you open todoing stupid things like cause accidents.

 

Studies have been conducted showing there is no difference in driving habits between hand held and hand free cell phone use. They are both bad driving habits.

 

Here in upstate NY there is a commercial sponcered by the DMV about motorcycle awareness. It is much like the VW commercials. Husband and wife are talking and not paying attention when the hubby turns left right in front of a guy on his motorcycle. The bike hits the passenger side of the car right in the door, glass breaks, wife screems, etc. It actually scares the crap out of ya the first time you see it because you are seeingthe whole accidentfrom inside the car. Cell Phone use (except hands free) is already banned in NY state but it doesnt stop anyone from doing it. I see dozens of people every day with the phone stuck in their face. People just dont give a crap. I saw a teacher (she had a high school faculty parking permit on her window) correcting papers on her steering wheel as she was driving 65mph in heavy traffic occasionally looking up to see what was going on in front of her. This is supposed to be someone teaching our kids anda role model? Ok I'm done for now....................BG

 

Here in Toronto we have the huge electronic changeable signs on all our highways. Every spring the MTO has them say, "be aware of motorcycles" It's not much, but every single person that drives is reminded 3 or 4 times a day for a month or so. I'm sure it helps.

If your city has the same signs call the department of transportation. It's free and helps.

Joe