The Deadly Dozen
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,505
Likes: 379
From: Florida
The Deadly Dozen
The Deadly Dozen: 12 Motorcycle Safety Myths and Misconceptions
Here's some interesting reading. You may or may not agree with some or all of it but none the less.....
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/str...ths/index.html
Here's some interesting reading. You may or may not agree with some or all of it but none the less.....
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/str...ths/index.html
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 161
From: Between Chicago & Milwaukee
RE: The Deadly Dozen
Thanks for posting....
I thought #5 did a great job of putting into words my reasons for wearing a helmet.I've seen people sustain serious head trauma on bicycles:
Myth 5: A Helmet Won't Help in Most Crashes
People look at the seemingly low impact speeds used in motorcycle-helmet testing and assume that if you are going faster than that, the helmet will no longer be up to the job. That ignores a few critical facts:
Most accidents happen at relatively low speeds.
Most of the impact energy is usually verticalâthe distance your head falls until it hits.
Helmets (or at least helmets that meet DOT standards) perform spectacular life-saving feats at impact speeds far above those used in testing.
When a helmeted rider suffers a fatal head injury, it frequently doesn't matter, because, to hit hard enough to sustain that fatal injury, he sustained multiple additional fatal injuries to other parts of his body. In other words, the fact that the helmet didn't prevent the head injury was of no consequence.
The numbers clearly say that riders using DOT helmets simply survive crashes more successfully than those without them.
I thought #5 did a great job of putting into words my reasons for wearing a helmet.I've seen people sustain serious head trauma on bicycles:
Myth 5: A Helmet Won't Help in Most Crashes
People look at the seemingly low impact speeds used in motorcycle-helmet testing and assume that if you are going faster than that, the helmet will no longer be up to the job. That ignores a few critical facts:
Most accidents happen at relatively low speeds.
Most of the impact energy is usually verticalâthe distance your head falls until it hits.
Helmets (or at least helmets that meet DOT standards) perform spectacular life-saving feats at impact speeds far above those used in testing.
When a helmeted rider suffers a fatal head injury, it frequently doesn't matter, because, to hit hard enough to sustain that fatal injury, he sustained multiple additional fatal injuries to other parts of his body. In other words, the fact that the helmet didn't prevent the head injury was of no consequence.
The numbers clearly say that riders using DOT helmets simply survive crashes more successfully than those without them.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From:
RE: The Deadly Dozen
I think that "Myth 7: A Skilled Rider Should Be Able to Handle Almost Any Situation" is not a myth. If it said a skilled rider could avoid all situations I would agree, but the key word here is almost any situation.
I have been riding something with two wheels and a motor since I was about 12, doesnt make me any better thanothers here, just pointing out that experiencedoes make a difference.
After riding for many years I know I cant avoid all situations but I can anticipate andeliminate hazards through adjustment of speed, changing lanes, whatever it takes. As I am sure most on this forum can. The key is to know your own limits, and the limits of your bike. I dont push speed nearly to the point I used to. At 55 my reflexes and reaction timesjust arent what they were when I was 40, let alone even earlier in my lifetime.
Thankfully, I have only been in one accident with another motorist, but have laid down different bikes I have had several times, mostly from my own stupidity or showing off. Learned a lot from it though.I have never sustained a serious injury, and pray it continues that way.
Otherwise pretty good article.
I have been riding something with two wheels and a motor since I was about 12, doesnt make me any better thanothers here, just pointing out that experiencedoes make a difference.
After riding for many years I know I cant avoid all situations but I can anticipate andeliminate hazards through adjustment of speed, changing lanes, whatever it takes. As I am sure most on this forum can. The key is to know your own limits, and the limits of your bike. I dont push speed nearly to the point I used to. At 55 my reflexes and reaction timesjust arent what they were when I was 40, let alone even earlier in my lifetime.
Thankfully, I have only been in one accident with another motorist, but have laid down different bikes I have had several times, mostly from my own stupidity or showing off. Learned a lot from it though.I have never sustained a serious injury, and pray it continues that way.
Otherwise pretty good article.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
RE: The Deadly Dozen
I particularly like #2. "Loud Pipes Save Lives". I have said for a long time that loud pipes just **** people off and have nothing to do with safety. Seems that loud pipes are actually involved in more crashes.
Bill
Bill
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From:
RE: The Deadly Dozen
The worst thing that helmet laws have done is to reduce the number of organ donors.
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