Safety statistics

[nobody0]

So I read on the Hurt Report conclusions that 92% of riders in reportable motorcycle accidents were essentially without training (i.e., self-taught or learned from family or friends).

Does that really mean that taking the MSF course reduces your chance of being in a reportable accident by 92%?

I hope so.

[D_Klein]

Most likely, yes.

But bear in mind that that report is pretty old, and limited to a small region of the world. Nonetheless, it has a lot of rudimentary facts to offer.

[tlwisner]

The Hurt Report is good in places - but it's basically ancient history. The Feds finally funded a new study along the lines of the Hurt report to update the data. There are lots of new things today that we didn't have back when the Hurt report was done, like widespread training, SUVs, Cell Phones, racing replica street bikes, a zillion yuppies on H-Ds, etc.

I'm looking forward to a more relevant report.

[ThumperWabbt]

Originally Posted by nobody0

Does that really mean that taking the MSF course reduces your chance of being in a reportable accident by 92%?

I hope so.

I hope so, too.

I'd be interested to find out the stats with the newer bikes on the road, and the current percentages of accidents that involve rider-only accidents / rider vs cage accidents.

I'm mostly interested in anything that will make the Spouse Thingy more comfortable with the idea of me on a motorcycle...he's seen a rash of bikers in the OR the last couple of weeks, and its making him very, very nevous.

[tlwisner]

A lot of those bikers in the ER put themselves there. If you wear a helmet, have a license, get some training, don't ride more bike than you can comfortably handle, don't drink and ride, actually read the owners manual and maintain your bike, don't ride like an idiot - those things will really increase you chances of not getting smooshed.

I wouldn't look for a lot of trained, helmet wearing, non-retarded, sober Rebel riders to put themselves in the hospital. You never know in life, but you can stack the deck in your favor.

[nobody0]

I agree with what you say here. Still, it would be nice to have some objective, relevant, up-to-date statisics on my side. That sort of reassurance would help the good riders ride better.

[tlwisner]

Most of the dead people I know were not motorcyclists.

[nobody0]

Nicely done.

[nobody0]

Even better would be to draw a Venn diagram. One circle represents People who are dead, another People who ride motorcycles. They intersect.

[Clint]

Not by 92%. There are many factors to consider, including whether some of the accident participants showed up more than once. Lord knows how many squids have crashed multiple times.

[kyro2000]

For what it's worth (and I know this is a small population for statistics) out of the 10 friends that I rode with on a regular basis back home; 2 of us (me included) took the MSF safety class. We are the only 2 that have not tottaled a bike.
I think the most import thing is to get profesional training when available and not just rely on friends or worse yet try to teach yourself to ride.
Just my 2cents.

[kwc50]

Originally Posted by kyro2000

I think the most import thing is to get profesional training when available and not just rely on friends or worse yet try to teach yourself to ride.

It's a trivial point, but according to the Hurt report you're better off teaching yourself than learning from friends -- probably has something to do with creating your own bad habits rather than trying to perfect soneone else's

[kyro2000]

Good find on the report. I guess for me it would have been horible if I tried to teach myself. I guess that's what I get for not reading all of the report.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by kyro2000

For what it's worth (and I know this is a small population for statistics) out of the 10 friends that I rode with on a regular basis back home; 2 of us (me included) took the MSF safety class. We are the only 2 that have not tottaled a bike.

Or is it that your personalities make you predisposed to a different mindset when it comes to riding, and the training is merely tangential to your care and discipline?

[Freakinout]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Or is it that your personalities make you predisposed to a different mindset when it comes to riding, and the training is merely tangential to your care and discipline?

Which is why you can never find a true cause > effect relationship, just correlations.

[kyro2000]

Ahh this thread is making me think way too much for the A.M. hours

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Or is it that your personalities make you predisposed to a different mindset when it comes to riding, and the training is merely tangential to your care and discipline?

I'm thinking that being trained and practiced at turning, swerving, maximum braking, proper braking, and even emergency stops in turns could certainly give a rider an advantage. When you've had countersteering explained by a pro and then you are put through excercises - you're gonna be a better rider on the road.