Sonny
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DeSoto, TX
Posts: 224
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Back for Kenny:
Across the board NHTSA says motorcycle riders are 30X more likely to be in a fatal accident that cagers. Now, if you consider that most fatal accidents happen when a motorcyclist is speeding, riding recklessly, drunk or drugged, or not paying attention him/herself, then you see that the 30X figure is heavily contributed to by those riders, and therefore skewed away from the cautious, disciplined and clear-thinking ones.
There's no accurate way to calculate the odds for the reckless or careless rider to be in a fatal accident -- the statistics don't cover enough variables --, but starting from the average of 30X, it could be 100X more likely than a cager, 1000X more likely... who knows?
At certain moments with fast wild riding it is easily 1000X. You can feel it. I think that is actually part of the thrill, part of the payoff, that makes people do it.
There's just no doubt that, beyond obvious things like training, experience and proper gear, there is a direct correlation between motorcycle accidents and speed. Watch any of the MC accident compilations on youtube. There are endless left turners and pull-out-from-the-righters and door openers and light runners in cars. But in almost every case the bike is going through an intersection at a speed where he cannot react to the offending car.
Our training is, slow to 25 when crossing an intersection. How many of us do that? What is at play are the simple, unbreakable laws of physics.
It's cold and analytical of the insurance companies, but high and low rates are what they are for a reason.
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