By Debbie Ingram
Published: July 19, 2008
Motorcycles — they’re not just for bad boys anymore.
Motorcycles are ridden by men and women, teens and seniors. They are ridden as status symbols and by baby boomers who want to relive their youth. They represent freedom, the open road and, nowadays, conservation.
Motorcycles average 56 miles per gallon, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That has made many drivers take a second look at bikes as they seek to escape the debilitating effects of record-high fuel prices.
Jeremy Middleton, sales manager of Harley-Davidson of Dothan, said many customers are first-time buyers.
Middleton said today’s motorcycle buyer comes in with two questions: How much and how many.
“They want to get on the most fuel-efficient bike at the lowest cost possible,” he said.
Among all brands of new motorcycles, prices start just under $4,000. Smaller scooters, which are highway approved and have less power and speed, cost less.
While sales have increased this year, Middleton says despite the gas prices, motorcycles have always been popular in the South because of the climate.
“We are only about midway through the riding season,” he said.
The risk factor
Motorcycles, obviously, are not like cars. They are two-wheeled vehicles which require balance and coordination to drive, and as such, are considered more dangerous than four-wheeled vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that inexperience plays a big part in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes. Now that more people are riding motorcycles, enthusiasts say taking a hands-on rider safety class is all the more important.
“The safety classes we promote in our area are offered as basic, intermediate, and experienced,” Middleton said. “Most people do take the course. They see the benefit.”
Also, insurance companies do give price breaks for riders who take the training course. Middleton said even experienced bikers have said they benefited from taking an advanced course.
“There are techniques they learn,” he said.
And riders need all the help they can get. In the event of a crash, a motorcycle rider is three times more likely to sustain serious or fatal injuries, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Motorcycle riders – and passengers – should be aware that the death rate per mile traveled by motorcyclists is seven times that for those in cars.
“With motorcycles – if you wreck – you will hurt yourself. With a car, you will hurt others,” said Sgt. Scott Brasher, assistant post commander at the Dothan Highway Patrol office.
There are two types of motorcycle accidents – single-vehicle crashes where a motorcyclist loses control, and collisions with other vehicles. Brasher said there are a variety of factors that come into play in single-motorcycle crashes.
“The accidents we see are speed related,” he said. “People are going too fast in curves or they are not trained well enough to ride a motorcycle. That’s the two biggest reasons for accidents. Driving under the influence is up there, but it is not a huge factor, not as much as inexperienced motorcyclists.”
In motorcycle vs. car accidents, the main cause is failure to see a motorcycle in traffic. Almost half of all motorcycle accidents occur when a vehicle turns left into the path of a bike; two-thirds of all fatal car and motorcycle collisions result from errors made by the driver of the car, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Highway safety officials have responded with public awareness campaigns in some states, and the motorcycle industry has come out with new products like flashing headlights in an attempt to make the motorcycle more visible in traffic.
It is all about being seen.
But Brasher said the highway patrol has gotten complaints about the lights.
“Most motorcycles have daytime running headlights for visibility only,” he said. “A lot of times with car drivers, without picking on anybody, eyesight is not as good as it used to be and motorcycles are quicker than cars. Motorcycles blend in with the traffic so well. They don’t stand out. When a motorcycle pops out of traffic, often drivers will shoot out and not see it. A car has more visibility.”
Regardless of the cause, when a vehicle and motorcycle collide, the motorcycle loses. Yet that fact does not deter riders.
“I would not ride in a car without a seat belt, but jumping on a motorcycle is no problem,” said John Faison of Kinsey. “I jump on my bike every weekend and never think anything about it.”
Faison rode a motorcycle as a teenager, then took a 20-year hiatus. He started back riding four years ago. He has never been involved in a motorcycle accident.
“When I ride in town, a hundred percent of the time, I watch other people,” he said. “It’s only when I’m riding on country roads that I enjoy the scenery. I trust myself – my own riding – but other people will run over you.”
Brasher said more motorcycle fatalities occur on sport bikes, which are often called “crotch rockets.”
“Those are the biggest problem we have now,” he said.
Sport bikes are more aerodynamic, faster, and often attract younger riders.
License required, training recommended
While new bikers might be inexperienced, they are required to pass a written test to acquire a motorcycle license (Class M) through the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
The motorcycle manual provided by the highway patrol educates drivers on riding basics, from body position to shifting and turning. It provides information on proper riding attire, how to handle dangerous surfaces, crash avoidance and group riding.
There is no driving test for motorcyclists like there is for motor vehicle drivers.
While everyone wants to increase rider safety, Imre Szauter, government affairs manager with the American Motorcyclist Association, said the AMA supports rider education programs but not mandatory training.
“States that offer programs now are unable to meet the demand,” he said. “Mandatory rider education would only create a bigger backlog of untrained riders.”
If the education requirement was tied to licensing, it could mean fewer riders would bother to obtain their licenses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40 percent of all motorcycle fatalities are drivers with no motorcycle license or no license at all.
But what about driver training for the other guy. The AMA believes that motorist awareness may be the single best solution to preventing crashes, Szauter said.
The AMA supports programs that require a motorcycle awareness component in driver education courses and state license manuals and testing; in-school awareness campaigns to educate young drivers to watch out for vulnerable roadway users such as motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians; and education on the dangers of distracted driving.
Brasher said there are steps motorcyclists can take to both increase their visibility and prevent driver error. Officials recommend wearing bright colors, particularly yellow.
“The biggest thing I recommend is, learn how to drive a motorcycle,” he said. “Wear a helmet and a reflective vest whenever possible and slow down.”
While Faison is not ready to give up his ride, he said safety is always on his mind.
“The whole time you are on the bike, you think safety and you watch the other person,” he said. “You know it’s dangerous when you get on it but you just enjoy it so much, you do it anyway. Wanting to ride outweighs the danger.”
Middleton agrees. “Basically, I never would think of getting off my bike. I am not going to stop riding because of the risk.”
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