Rider Fatalities

Andre Alforque · 06-13-2005, 09:57 AM

We might want to think about banding as a community and finding ways to reduce these numbers before the laws are made more strict against motorcyclists...

From this article: Fatalities prompt motorcycle safety talk

Posted on Mon, Jun. 13, 2005

Fatalities prompt motorcycle safety talk

By Amber Ellis

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Four motorcycle fatalities over the weekend of June 3-5 do not appear to have been linked to helmet use - a key safety precaution for bikers.

Instead, authorities say alcohol and, in one case, racing horseplay, were responsible for the three deadly accidents.

Pittsburg resident Jacob Guerrero, 21, died June 5 at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek after crashing his motorcycle into a vehicle making a turn onto Crestview Drive in Pittsburg.

Thomas Lacy Sr. died June 3 on Gateway Road on Bethel Island. The 55-year-old Brentwood resident made an unsafe turn, causing his bike to veer onto the dirt shoulder, the Highway Patrol said. Police say alcohol may have been involved.

Speeding led to the deaths of 35-year-old Andres Yount of Pittsburg and his passenger, Teresa Sobb, 28 of Antioch. The pair were southbound June 5 on Lone Tree Way in Antioch when Yount lost control of his 2005 Harley Davidson.

Police say he may also have been under the influence of alcohol. Officials arrested 35-year-old Bart Bologna of Pittsburg on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving. Officers said they believed he was racing with Yount. He was released later and no charges had been filed as of Friday.

Over the years, some motorcyclists have gravitated toward two types of risky competitive motorcycle racing, CHP Officer Cliff Kroeger said.

One is the racing believed responsible for the double fatality in Antioch, and the other is exhibition-style competition in which riders race at dangerous speeds while doing wheelies and other bike stunts.

"It's the same concerns that you have with any other motor vehicle," Kroeger said. "Speed will dictate the survival rate of the driver. The worst motorcycle offenders use excessive speed and drive under the influence. You just have to drive sanely, have respect for the people around you."

The high-performance speed of motorcycles makes it harder for their riders to stop them, said Russ Rader, spokesman for research agency Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

"Motorcycles are not enclosed; the rider is more vulnerable to contact with other vehicles and the hard road surface. That's why wearing a helmet is so important," Rader said.

California is one of 21 states, and the District of Columbia, that have mandatory, helmet laws. Several studies have shown that states requiring residents to wear headgear have nearly 100 percent compliance, which saves nearly one third of the lives that could be lost in accidents.

Helmets do not prevent death every time. Each of the people killed June 3 and 5 wore one.

The key to safety is being aware of one's surroundings, one motorcycle rider said.

Bobbie Smirl has never had an accident. She decided to get her license one year ago, but prior to that, the office assistant for the Modified Motorcycle Association of California rode with her husband for years. Smirl said she believes motorcycle accidents are given more negative publicity than motor vehicle crashes.

"Of course I worry about what could happen," said Smirl, who sometimes wears a helmet, depending on where she is going. "You don't know what kind of conditions you're going to face on the road. I'm not scared to ride, though, no more scared than when I'm in my own car."

According to preliminary numbers released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,900 people died on motorcycles in the United States in 2004, a 7.3 percent increase from the year before. Current statistics for California are not yet available.

Despite the increase in motorcycle fatalities, biker interest continues to grow across the country, with rider totals reaching 8.8 million in 2003.

Trends show that ridership is not likely to decrease soon, Rader said.

"Unfortunately, people don't make decisions based on someone else's mistakes," he added.

"They don't believe that they are the ones who are going to be in a crash. They believe it always happens to someone else ... until it happens to them."

Amber Ellis can be reached at 925-977-8418 or at [email address]

.

MAD1 · 06-13-2005, 01:01 PM

Cut and paste article puh-leeeez!!!

**Vtec44** · 06-13-2005, 01:02 PM

How about cut and paste the article so we won't have to register to read?

Yeah, they should have better prepration classes for getting a motorcycle license. It's scary that after passing my M1, I was barely comfortable riding around town. With faster and lighter motorcycles, and an increase number of people with more money than brain, it's not going to get better. For some reason, we're losing more and more common sense

R-ggressive · 06-13-2005, 01:04 PM

i was watching Speed and they were talking about how in diff countrys you have to take a safety course, and your first bike has to be less than 500cc. in order to ride

Night Train · 06-13-2005, 02:20 PM

I am always up for rider safety. This is bad news for us. I always worry that people (cagers) are going to get fed up and make the laws even stricter. Unfortunately, outsiders (almost) always base their opinion on the few bad apples. There are so many responsible riders out there but they never seem to go noticed.

I live next to a freeway onramp (it sucks). Anyway, yesterday I saw two sportbike riders. One of them was doing a wheelie all the way up the ramp while passing a car. I am all about fun but when citizens see this (of course some see this as cool), they think they we are reckless and crazy.

We do need to band together as a community. I think most of us do.

Instead of putting cops out there on ACH busting you for going 1 mph over the speed limit (they should be busting those that are really dangerous), I would like to see some campaigns about getting motorcycle training, gear, etc. For those of us that subscribe to motorcycle magazines, there are some advertisements in those magazines. However, what is needed is something on primetime TV.

I hate to hear of this news....

pantablo · 06-13-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre Alforque

...That's why wearing a helmet is so important," Rader said.

...lost control of his 2005 Harley Davidson...
Helmets do not prevent death every time. Each of the people killed June 3 and 5 wore one.

since when do beanies count as helmets?

06-13-2005, 09:57 AM	#1
Andre Alforque I am the underdog Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 60618 Posts: 1,077 Bike(s): Bianchi Fremont Images: 12	Rider Fatalities We might want to think about banding as a community and finding ways to reduce these numbers before the laws are made more strict against motorcyclists... From this article: Fatalities prompt motorcycle safety talk Posted on Mon, Jun. 13, 2005 Fatalities prompt motorcycle safety talk By Amber Ellis CONTRA COSTA TIMES Four motorcycle fatalities over the weekend of June 3-5 do not appear to have been linked to helmet use - a key safety precaution for bikers. Instead, authorities say alcohol and, in one case, racing horseplay, were responsible for the three deadly accidents. Pittsburg resident Jacob Guerrero, 21, died June 5 at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek after crashing his motorcycle into a vehicle making a turn onto Crestview Drive in Pittsburg. Thomas Lacy Sr. died June 3 on Gateway Road on Bethel Island. The 55-year-old Brentwood resident made an unsafe turn, causing his bike to veer onto the dirt shoulder, the Highway Patrol said. Police say alcohol may have been involved. Speeding led to the deaths of 35-year-old Andres Yount of Pittsburg and his passenger, Teresa Sobb, 28 of Antioch. The pair were southbound June 5 on Lone Tree Way in Antioch when Yount lost control of his 2005 Harley Davidson. Police say he may also have been under the influence of alcohol. Officials arrested 35-year-old Bart Bologna of Pittsburg on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving. Officers said they believed he was racing with Yount. He was released later and no charges had been filed as of Friday. Over the years, some motorcyclists have gravitated toward two types of risky competitive motorcycle racing, CHP Officer Cliff Kroeger said. One is the racing believed responsible for the double fatality in Antioch, and the other is exhibition-style competition in which riders race at dangerous speeds while doing wheelies and other bike stunts. "It's the same concerns that you have with any other motor vehicle," Kroeger said. "Speed will dictate the survival rate of the driver. The worst motorcycle offenders use excessive speed and drive under the influence. You just have to drive sanely, have respect for the people around you." The high-performance speed of motorcycles makes it harder for their riders to stop them, said Russ Rader, spokesman for research agency Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Motorcycles are not enclosed; the rider is more vulnerable to contact with other vehicles and the hard road surface. That's why wearing a helmet is so important," Rader said. California is one of 21 states, and the District of Columbia, that have mandatory, helmet laws. Several studies have shown that states requiring residents to wear headgear have nearly 100 percent compliance, which saves nearly one third of the lives that could be lost in accidents. Helmets do not prevent death every time. Each of the people killed June 3 and 5 wore one. The key to safety is being aware of one's surroundings, one motorcycle rider said. Bobbie Smirl has never had an accident. She decided to get her license one year ago, but prior to that, the office assistant for the Modified Motorcycle Association of California rode with her husband for years. Smirl said she believes motorcycle accidents are given more negative publicity than motor vehicle crashes. "Of course I worry about what could happen," said Smirl, who sometimes wears a helmet, depending on where she is going. "You don't know what kind of conditions you're going to face on the road. I'm not scared to ride, though, no more scared than when I'm in my own car." According to preliminary numbers released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,900 people died on motorcycles in the United States in 2004, a 7.3 percent increase from the year before. Current statistics for California are not yet available. Despite the increase in motorcycle fatalities, biker interest continues to grow across the country, with rider totals reaching 8.8 million in 2003. Trends show that ridership is not likely to decrease soon, Rader said. "Unfortunately, people don't make decisions based on someone else's mistakes," he added. "They don't believe that they are the ones who are going to be in a crash. They believe it always happens to someone else ... until it happens to them." Amber Ellis can be reached at 925-977-8418 or at . __________________ "The Pace" by Nick Ienatsch - My Motorcycle History www.flickr.blog/xbl:Dre AL4K Last edited by Andre Alforque; 06-13-2005 at 10:11 AM. Reason: Pasted entire article. Sorry, Google had no problems linking me.

06-13-2005, 01:01 PM	#2
MAD1 TOKEN Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Santa Claritucky Posts: 2,111 Bike(s): 2008 gixxersixxer Images: 21	Cut and paste article puh-leeeez!!! __________________ The F4i was non-operational(BROKED) and sold off. Bought a 2007 600rr and that was stolen after owning it for a week(STOLED). Now on the '08 GSX-R600...

06-13-2005, 01:04 PM	#4
R-ggressive cloth!ng Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: In Your Mouth Posts: 7,573 Bike(s): 99Katana-600, 05gixxer1000 Images: 88	i was watching Speed and they were talking about how in diff countrys you have to take a safety course, and your first bike has to be less than 500cc. in order to ride __________________ 10/27/08 = 110.40 kgs (Goal 86.18)

06-13-2005, 02:20 PM	#5
Night Train S3 Crow Join Date: May 2005 Location: OP Posts: 2,212 Bike(s): 2007 Triumph Speed Triple	I am always up for rider safety. This is bad news for us. I always worry that people (cagers) are going to get fed up and make the laws even stricter. Unfortunately, outsiders (almost) always base their opinion on the few bad apples. There are so many responsible riders out there but they never seem to go noticed. I live next to a freeway onramp (it sucks). Anyway, yesterday I saw two sportbike riders. One of them was doing a wheelie all the way up the ramp while passing a car. I am all about fun but when citizens see this (of course some see this as cool), they think they we are reckless and crazy. We do need to band together as a community. I think most of us do. Instead of putting cops out there on ACH busting you for going 1 mph over the speed limit (they should be busting those that are really dangerous), I would like to see some campaigns about getting motorcycle training, gear, etc. For those of us that subscribe to motorcycle magazines, there are some advertisements in those magazines. However, what is needed is something on primetime TV. I hate to hear of this news.... __________________ Kimaili "Ken" "Hey, what home improvement project do you need that torque wrench for?" Unidentified Sears Employee 2006

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