Boomers bump up motorcycle fatalities

[PeteSC]

Posted on Sun, Apr. 24, 2005
 
 
 


Boomers bump up motorcycle fatalities

By Greg Schneider

WASHINGTON POST


WASHINGTON - A deadly trend has emerged on U.S. highways, with over-40 riders accounting for a significant increase in motorcycle fatalities nationwide.

More than 3,900 people died on motorcycles in the United States in 2004, up 7.3 percent from the year before, according to preliminary highway safety numbers released Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That's the seventh straight year of increases in motorcycle deaths on U.S. roadways, for an 85 percent overall rise since 1997.

The majority of the increase in motorcycle deaths -- 60 percent -- involved riders older than 40, the agency said.

More Americans are riding motorcycles than ever as aging, affluent baby boomers recapture the "Easy Rider" dreams of their youth.

In 2003, the median age of all motorcyclists in the United States was 41, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. In 1985, the median age was 27.

Total ridership hit 8.8 million in 2003 from 6.57 million just six years before.

The trend has led to the rebirth of the classic American cycle builder Harley-Davidson and spawned a host of imitators out to grab a share of the middle-age market for full-throated, big-tired cruising bikes.

But along with that surge has come an increase in motorcycle casualties among older riders.

"It has always been a presumption that young people are the ones most over-involved in motorcycle crashes," said Joan Claybrook, president of safety advocacy group Public Citizen.

"A lot of states passed laws saying you have to wear a helmet if you're 18 or younger, assuming that if you're over 18 you'll have good judgment and of course you'll wear a helmet. Well, people don't."

In fact, older riders have spearheaded a push to eliminate or weaken mandatory helmet laws in states that have them, which safety groups say has directly led to the increase in motorcycle fatalities.

Many motorcycle enthusiasts argue that personal freedom is central to their love of cycling and that governments shouldn't tell them how to take care of themselves.

"Personal choice is what we want," said Jim Cannon, 45, of Richmond, head of the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists.

"In my case, I feel a lot more aware without a helmet. I feel unencumbered. Truth be known, I'm probably a safer rider without a helmet."

NHTSA's statistics, which will be revised later this year, showed that motorcycles accounted for more than 9 percent of the 42,800 total fatalities projected nationwide for 2004.

In 1997, motorcycles accounted for 5 percent of all fatalities.

[WEINERDOGBONE]

If I remember correctly, we've had three motorcycle fatalities in my area since it got warm enough to ride. In two of the crashes, the rider was intoxicated on his Harley. No helmet but they both had really nice chaps.

The third was a youngster on his new GSX R750. He and a BMW were racing and jockeying for position in bumper to bumper traffic. The youngster hit the curb, went over the handlebars and into a large green electrical box at the side of the road. He wasn't wearing a helmet but it probably wouldn't have saved him in this case. It was a helluva tragedy.

 You would think that older guys should know better than to drink and ride. Young guys are just squirrley sometimes. I was about half nuts when I was a kid. Fortunately, my Dad put a boot in my rear end until I outgrew some of it.

[Tundrahog]

I tend to agree with the "not wearing a helmet increases fatalities", but I'd be willing to bet that any increase in fatalities is more directly related to the increased number of miles ridden and a decrease in the amount of experience riders have--regardless of their age.

[Red01]

I tend to believe in the "baby-boomer" crowd, that the victims are riding cruisers, don't have a lot of recent miles under their belt and are more times than not, intoxicated. Oh, and if they were wearing a helmet, it's a skull-cap... possibly not even a DOT approved one at that.