MOTOCYCLER's BBS

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS-- Subject: The bottom line is, pay attention when you're behind the wheel. Bikers, Motorcyclists' Lives depend on it.

We have the Right to travel these roads of the USA as Bikers, Motorcyclist. We embrace Risk every time we mount our motorcycle, but the risks increase substantially with multiplied numbers of motorists and increased allowable distraction to driving. The other side of the coin is legislative. The government wants to put the safety responsibility on motorcyclists, with expanded helmet laws and forced training mandates. The heat should be on the killer car people. It's bull**** as you will see.

Drivers don't think that multi-tasking should be banned by the law. Can we force driver training for drivers? In fact, no training is dangerous.

Does this sound familiar. Motorists are thinking of their Freedom and Rights too. Helmets are not the answer. In fact they're a hindrance to defensive riding.

Researchers at the University of Utah have found that drivers using cell phones, even hands-free devices, experience a decrease in the ability to process peripheral vision, creating a potentially lethal "tunnel vision." This "inattention blindness" slows reaction time by 20% and resulted in some of the 20 test subjects missing half the red lights they encountered in simulated driving.

"We found that when people are on the phone, the amount of information they are taking in is significantly reduced," says associate professor David Strayer. "People were missing things, like cars swerving in front or sudden lane changes. We had at least three rear-end collisions." The Utah study is only the latest investigation into the effects of driving and cell phone use, and most of the others have also demonstrated some degree of impairment. And while most studies have focused on the distractions of dialing or holding a phone, the Utah research tried to focus on the distractions caused by having a conversation. New York is the only state to have instituted laws against the practice, but 30 more states have similar legislation pending.

Imagine if this testing included cell phone use while monitoring a GPS, messing with a CD changer and being distracted by a baby crying in the back seat.

Distracted driving contributes to 25 percent of all automobile crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Joseph Tessmer, a NHTSA statistician, estimated 20% to 30% of fatal accidents are due to distractions, but said it's impossible to know for sure because only a few states document distractions in accident reports. But the correct argument is that multi- tasking can lead to driver distraction when drivers haven't properly trained themselves to use the new car gadgets. This is true for older devices like the familiar radio and CD as well as the new, GPS systems, DVD players, phones, and e-mail. Multi- tasking becomes severe occasions for drivers to make more mistakes, when they fail to train themselves properly. This increased training is a joint responsibility of the individual driver and the government? ..How about common sense!

NHTSA surveyed 4,010 drivers in spring 2002 and asked about a variety of potentially distracting behaviors (Royal, 2003, p. 1). The vast majority reported these behaviors on some trips, often on many or most trips. The most common were:

81 percent talked to other passengers on some trips;
66 percent changed radio stations or looked for CDs or tapes;
49 percent ate or drank;
26 percent took incoming calls on a cell phone and 25 percent made outgoing calls;
24 percent dealt with children in the back seat;
12 percent read a map or directions.

Distracted drivers who are busy communicating, being entertained, guided or dining are being aggressive because they are willfully imposing their own level of risk on others. Distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves but to motorcyclist. Forcing higher risk on others is aggressive. Maybe the distracted/aggressive driver thinks, Oh, I can handle it, but can others? I consider distracted driving as a form of aggressive driving. Drivers who use communication devices and drive distracted as a result are being aggressive drivers. A large danger to motorcyclist.

Internet access from a moving vehicle is a reality today, and getting bigger each month. Research on cell phone use by drivers shows that many drivers become dangerous due to distraction. They are especially at risk and dangerous--unless they train themselves. We don't know of any training programs for Internet access in cars, or for other multi-tasking activities. We recommend that these be put in place by the industry and government. But in the meantime, drivers can train themselves, but will they?

Can the distracted driver be trained? Attitude dictates the answer.

First, drivers must acknowledge that they need to train themselves, and if they don't, they become a danger to themselves and others. So until they go through the training, they ought not to allow themselves to use the equipment while the car is moving.

Second, they need to practice the equipment over and over again while the car is not moving, until they can do whatever it is with closed yes and while talking to a passenger.

Third, they cautiously begin to use features, one at a time while the car is moving in the right lane without too much traffic, thus gradually increasing the times and places of use. We also recommend monitoring yourself and keeping a Driving Log or Diary where you record the errors you've seen yourself make.

Finally, ask a passenger to monitor you to see if you're making mistakes or distraction. Leon James, Ph.D. and Diane Nahl, Ph.D. ROAD RAGE AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare (Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2000) ISBN 1-57392-846-1

Unless drivers voluntarily train themselves, it's likely that government regulations and restrictions will be the reaction-- like Band-Aid mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclist. A very poor solution in any case.My god, she's talking on a cell phone.

Cell phones are one of the most common distractions, a study released by NHTSA and Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute showed. However, according to AAA and NHTSA, it is the intellectual activity of talking on a cell phone, rather than the phone itself, that impairs ability to concentrate and retain control of one's vehicle. http://www.vtti.vt.edu/PDF/100-Car_Fact- Sheet.pdf A recent study that monitored 100 drivers for a year, using specialized instrumentation, reported that nearly 80 percent of the 72 recorded crashes and 65 percent of the 761 near-crashes involved driver inattention just prior to the incident (VTTI, 2005).

In crashes where distractions were reported, the most common distractions were similar in NHTSA's driver survey and crash investigations.

37 percent in survey, 29 percent in crashes: something outside the car - street sign, another driver;
19 percent in survey, 11 percent in crashes: other passengers, including children;
16 percent in survey, 21 percent in crashes: object or controls inside the car;
2 percent in survey, 2 percent in crashes: dialing or using a cell phone.

Other distractions, such as eating, tending to children, talking with others in the car, reading maps and applying makeup also is problematic. A study funded by AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety found that using a hands-free cell phone and tuning a car radio are equally distracting. Anything that takes drivers' eyes and minds off the road or hands off the wheel is distracting, cautions the NHTSA.

Frequency of the distraction and multi-tasking further increased risk. Looking away from the road for two seconds or longer makes a driver's odds of being involved in a crash nearly twice as high, found a study released by by AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety and Virginia Tech. ht tp://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/RiskyDrivingReport.pdf If these girls passed me on the freeway I be forced to grab may cell phone, call a buddy and try to take their picture while driving. ****, I'd need to turn my radio down.

Clearly, anything that takes drivers' minds and hands off the wheel puts them and others at risk. A survey conducted by AAA Colorado last year showed that 51 percent of teens surveyed around the state admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving, and 66 percent said they talked on their cell phones while driving. Thirty eight percent of the respondents acknowledged taking their eyes off the road when texting while driving. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (RMIIA) partnered with AAA Colorado to support the survey planning and publicity. http://denver.yourhub.com/Conifer/ Stories/News/General-News/Story~394607.aspx

AAA and its partners hope the study will create more awareness of the need for new driver safety and education. Colorado law prohibits drivers of any age from operating cell phones while holding learners' permits.

"Aggressive driving" is defined as an incident in which an angry or impatient motorist or passenger intentionally injures or kills another motorist, motorcyclist, passenger, or pedestrian, or attempts to injure or kill another motorist, motorcyclist, passenger, or pedestrian, in response to a traffic dispute, altercation, or grievance. It is also considered "aggressive driving" when an angry or vengeful motorist intentionally drives his or her vehicle into a building or other structure or property.

When drivers overstep this line, they become socially and legally responsible. Drivers who allow themselves to be distracted by their multi-tasking activities are increasing the risk factor for themselves and imposing that dangerous limit on motorcyclist, and others--passengers, other drivers, pedestrians. This increased risk to which others are subjected is thus similar to other driver behavior that are considered aggressive and illegal: going through red lights, failing to yield, exceeding safe speed limits, reckless weaving, drinking and driving, driving.

Distracted driving and Aggressive driving, whatever the cause, is an issue for drivers of all ages. The bottom line is, pay attention when you're behind the wheel. Bikers' and Motorcyclists' Lives depend on it.

Bikers Accident Survivor Forum
Bikers Supporting Bikers After A Serious Catastrophic Injuries
Legislatative Issues Motorcycle Awareness
Amputee and Paraplegic Resources and Supplies
Motorcycle Rider Education
Accident Scene Management