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 | | From: | LTTWINMSTR | | Subject: | Motorcycle Boomer Deaths | | Date: | 22 Jan 2005 08:46:02 GMT |
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 | Motorcycle Boomer Deaths Raise Concerns
Motorcycle Boomer Deaths Raise ConcernsMotorcycle Safety Activists Raise
Concerns About Baby Boomer Buying Trends and Deaths
Mike Cullinan sits on his new Harley-Davidson for the first time, Tuesday, Jan.
11, 2005, in a dealers's warehouse in Westbrook, Maine. Cullinan, 38, is in an
age group that is driving up the number of motorcycle registrations nationwide.
They also make up the fastest-growing segment of motorcycle deaths. (AP
Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine Jan 22, 2005 — Safety experts suspect older motorcycle riders
with a lot of disposable income are buying more machines than their aging,
out-of-practice bodies can handle.
Across the country, the annual number of motorcycle fatalities among 40-plus
riders tripled over the past decade to 1,674 in 2003, while deaths among riders
under 30 dropped slightly to 1,161, according to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.
According to NHTSA, the average age of motorcyclists killed in accidents rose
from 32 in 1994 to 38 in 2003.
"It's really kind of astonishing. The ages of these fatalities are so high. You
would think it would be all of the young kids on those fast bikes, but it's
not," said Carl Hallman, highway safety coordinator with the Maine Department
of Public Safety.
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Mike Cullinan made a midlife course correction, breaking up with his girlfriend
and buying himself a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle: a 620-pound Dyna Low Rider
with a 1,450-cc, fuel-injected engine.
Lots of baby boomers and middle-aged Americans like the 38-year-old Cullinan
are getting motorcycles, whether to recapture their lost youth or pull through
some kind of midlife crisis.
And now, as a result, riders 40 and over are accounting for an alarming number
of motorcycling deaths.
The surge in deaths among older riders helped to push motorcycle fatalities
higher overall. They jumped by nearly half during the past five years, from
2,483 in 1999 to 3,661 in 2003.
In Maine, 22 people were killed on motorcycles in 2004, the highest level in a
decade. In New Hampshire, 29 died, versus nine the year before. In Vermont,
there were 11 fatal crashes, more than in the three previous years combined. In
all three states, riders in their 30s and older accounted for the most crashes.
"From a career standpoint, they have a little extra time and a little extra
disposable income. The kids have grown up, so they're looking for hobbies,"
said Rae Tyson, a NHTSA spokesman who specializes in motorcycle safety.
As for why so many riders in their 40s, 50s and beyond are dying, big, powerful
bikes appear to be part of the explanation. NHTSA data show that both engine
size and deaths among riders with the largest class of engines rose during the
past decade.
NHTSA figures also show that riders in their 30s and 40s who died were more
likely than their younger counterparts to have been drinking.
In addition, safety experts say many older riders are either returning to
motorcycling after many years or are trying it for the first time.
"They haven't ridden in 20 or 30 years, so their skills are rusty. Motorcycles
have changed, and they're getting bigger motorcycles. And they're getting on
without a refresher course," said Cathy Rimm, program director for Motorcycle
Rider Education of Maine, a nonprofit organization that offers safety training.
Finally, safety officials point out that older riders' eyesight and reflexes
are not what they once were.
"In our experienced-rider courses, we do take into account the way your body
changes, that your reaction time will change and that your eyesight will
change. There are changes older riders should make," said Mike Mount, spokesman
for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Irvine, Calif.
Cullinan, a repair shop manager from Standish, had not ridden for 15 years, and
his life underwent a big change when he broke off a relationship. He spent more
than $18,000 on his black low rider with chrome.
"I went for the largest bike I could handle, or that I hope I can handle," he
said.
Though Maine and many other states require classes for new riders to get
motorcycle licenses, there are no such requirements for a license holder who
decides to get on a bike for the first time in decades. No state requires
continuing periodic education, said Kathy Van Kleeck of the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation.
Cullinan said his eyes were opened by the statistics. He has bought a helmet,
which is not required in Maine, and is taking a refresher course this winter.
"I'm hoping I will learn something that'll make me safer," he said. "I'll be
riding this spring and summer with my eyes open."
On the Net:
Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Print This StoryPrint This Story E-mail This ArticleEmail This Article
Just be careful out there!
Twinmaster
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| | From: | High Plains Thumper | | Subject: | Re: Motorcycle Boomer Deaths | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 12:45:24 -0000 |
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| lttwinmstr@aol.com (LTTWINMSTR) wrote in
news:20050122034602.00990.00000181@mb-m04.aol.com:
> Motorcycle Boomer Deaths Raise Concerns
>
> Motorcycle Boomer Deaths Raise ConcernsMotorcycle Safety
> Activists Raise Concerns About Baby Boomer Buying Trends
> and Deaths Mike Cullinan sits on his new Harley-Davidson
> for the first time, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, in a dealers's
You're a little late, same has been posted several times.
> In Maine, 22 people were killed on motorcycles in 2004, the
> highest level in a decade. In New Hampshire, 29 died,
> versus nine the year before. In Vermont, there were 11
> fatal crashes, more than in the three previous years
> combined. In all three states, riders in their 30s and
> older accounted for the most crashes.
Numbers of 22, 29 and 11 are low compared with other vehicles.
There are more people riding, you'd expect a higher tally
based on the increase number people riding.
Lemme guess. We should increase the number of automated
safety devices on the motorcycle, so only the well-to-do can
afford a motorcycle.
- HPT
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| | From: | Kitchen Man | | Subject: | Re: Motorcycle Boomer Deaths | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 13:16:44 -0700 |
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| On 22 Jan 2005 08:46:02 GMT, lttwinmstr@aol.com (LTTWINMSTR) wrote:
>
>NHTSA figures also show that riders in their 30s and 40s who died were more
>likely than their younger counterparts to have been drinking.
>
>In addition, safety experts say many older riders are either returning to
>motorcycling after many years or are trying it for the first time.
>
>"They haven't ridden in 20 or 30 years, so their skills are rusty. Motorcycles
>have changed, and they're getting bigger motorcycles. And they're getting on
>without a refresher course," said Cathy Rimm, program director for Motorcycle
>Rider Education of Maine, a nonprofit organization that offers safety training.
The drinking plus lack of training is far more a contributing cause than
poor eyesight or weak joints. Fuck, I ain't *that* weak! I still play
basketball with 20 year old kids, and even keep up. A bit.
Also overlooked in the "study" is the perception that killing a biker
isn't likely to get a motorist prosecuted these days. Kill a biker, go
watch TV. I'd like to see some numbers on lightly prosecuted biker
killings.
--
Al Brennan
"Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to ya?"
'98 FLTRI - Laser Red Pearl
'98 T409 EN - British Racing Green
'83 GR650 - Krylon Red
'57 6T - Black owl tuna at hot mail dot com
http://www.xmission.com/motorbike/NART/nart.html
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| | From: | mjt | | Subject: | Re: Motorcycle Boomer Deaths | | Date: | Sat, 22 Jan 2005 08:14:05 -0600 |
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| LTTWINMSTR wrote:
> Motorcycle Boomer Deaths Raise ConcernsMotorcycle Safety Activists Raise
> Concerns About Baby Boomer Buying Trends and Deaths
> Mike Cullinan sits on his new Harley-Davidson for the first time, Tuesday, Jan.
> 11, 2005, in a dealers's warehouse in Westbrook, Maine. Cullinan, 38,
.... i thought the baby boomer age was 40-50's? lemme check:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer
.... then ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-WW2_baby_boom
"[...] In the United States, demographers have put the
generation's birth years at 1946 to 1964, despite
[...]"
--
<< http://michaeljtobler.homelinux.com/ >>
I'm a Lisp variable -- bind me!
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