Motorcycle Deaths Renew Safety Calls

Just having them pass you can be scary -- groups of high-speed motorcyclists darting through traffic at speeds that make even lead-foot drivers wince.

[Bob]

As an owner of a 2006 R6 I haven't yet caught my bike doing anything I did not want it to do. Therefor blaming the motorcycle is just typical of you people. Most motorcycle accidents happen because you people are not paying attention to whats going on around you, probably because your on the phone. But, its not your fault, its the phones fault. Your too stupid to realize your stupid. And you wonder why the world is going to crap...

[PST]

I Hope the catch the guy there's no need of it and it's happening more often then they know ! It's to bad that the picture insn't the best.In my book he murdered a guy and almost killed a hole lot more .

[PST]

I have noticed many (NOT ALL) people on motorcycles go's between cars and speed as if they have that right to do so .I agree that there's alot of people not paying attention for one reason or another (But what do you mean you people)I dont even have a cell phone !!I drive with the radio off even if I did it be classical music on .I'm a very safe drive and I go some what close to the speed limit and hope no one hit's me because I am going the speed limit.

[David]

If you are going the speed limit on the freeway and everyone else is going 10-15 mph faster you are the problem.

[Dwayne]

TROY, YOU'RE NOT BEING REAL IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME RIDERS OF BIKES DOING ILLEGAL SPEEDING OR DIVING BETWEEN CARS, I USE TO RIDE AND KNOW. IT HAS NOTHING TO WITH A DRIVER BEING ON A CELL PHONE, RADIO ON, BUT MORE SO TO WITH A LOT OF INEXPERIENCED RIDERS OF VERY POWERFUL BIKES, ON HIGHLY CONGESTED ROADS TRYING TO WEAVE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. CARS WILL NEVER BE AS NIMBLE NOR RESPONSIVE AS A BIKE. THEY JUST WEIGH MORE AND CAN TAKE A BUMP A WHOLE LOT BETTER AT 70 MPH (THE AVERAGE SPEED ON THE BELTWAY). TRULY, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, UNLESS THE POLICE RECEIVE BIKES AND THEN WE'LL ONLY SEE MORE HIGH SPEED CHASES. THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE TO DO EVERYTHING AND A LOT OF RIDERS NEED TO LEARN THE WHEN. SPEEDING IS SPEEDING, REGARDLESS OF IT BEING A CAR OR BIKE. THE BEST THING ANY DRIVER OR RIDER CAN DO IS STAY ALERT AND MONITOR ALL OF THEIR MIRRORS WHEN DRIVING OR RIDING --- THAT'S ANY DRIVER OR RIDERS RESPONSIBILITY!

[carl]

'Called "bullet bikes" and "crotch rockets," with the drivers crouching low over the body of the bike, the motorcycles tear down roads at harrowing speeds.'

this is clearly a well thought-out wannabe "statement". who "said" this using such descriptive wording ?????

[Pachacutec]

While there ARE many responsible bikers out there who obey the traffic laws (and I know many such people), there's also a lot of people who ride the "bullet bikes" who do not. This isn't something I'm repeating from a news story, this is something I see on a regular basis. I agree that people in cars definitely need to pay more attention to what's around them; however, if a biker is weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, well, the biker is the one putting his personal safety at risk,not the auto driver. RE the accident where the 2 bikers were killed; some people are saying the station wagon pulled out in front of them; but if the bikes were going 100 miles per hour as reported, THEY were the ones putting themselves at risk, no matter if the road was free of other traffic or not.

[1badf350]

Dwayne wrote:

TROY, YOU'RE NOT BEING REAL IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME RIDERS OF BIKES DOING ILLEGAL SPEEDING OR DIVING BETWEEN CARS, I USE TO RIDE AND KNOW.

I think you should read what he wrote again. You both are saying the same thing.

[1badf350]

Banning certain motorcycles? Ridiculous, but I expect nothing less. "Kneejerk" reactive legislation is common in cases like this. Just look at most of the gun control laws. Specifically, the so called "assault weapons ban". Crime related use of what everyone referrs to as "assault weapons" accounts for a ridiculously low percentage of gun related crimes. Yet, everyone wants to ban them because they look scary.
The same priciple is now being applied to sport bikes. Everyone wants to ban objects instead of holding the users accountable for their actions.
Responsible sport bike owners are now experiencing what responsible gun owners have experienced for decades.
It will not end as long as the disease of "liberalism" exists. Liberals want to define and dictate what others may own, drive, eat, etc. based on why, in the liberals mind, a person would "need" to own such a thing.

[henry jones]

why not put police on motorcycles to patrol like in the past when they would be sitting on the highways patrolling areas, that way when a cars, motorcycles trucks, are going over the speed posted it would be a lot safer to put the lights on where the people in cars,trucks,motorcycles will see them. its just one way to look at the safety of the highway driving on all parts.

[Cindy]

I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours because of the crash in Easton. I have never seen an accident that bad. I had to then explain to my children about the bodies that were covered on the side of the road. It wasn't something I wanted to tell a 9 and 7 year old. It is a shame that some motorcyle riders put themselves and others at such risk for a simple thrill.

[trufan]

Hmmmmmmmm.....no seat belts, no front air bags, no side air bags, not even a windshield that may stop you from flying out of your vehicle....Have you ever noticed how these horrific accidents always seem to happen in the spring when motorcycle novices get their shiny new bikes and then decide to take to the highways and get with their "boys" and drive "wreck"lessly???? Don't they realize that one bad decision, and its "SPLAT" just like a bug on a windshield...They have NO protection. It makes NO DIFFERENCE who is at fault- they are stiil just as dead and gone forever..No, there should not be more laws enacted to regulate which motorcycles should be sold. These CRAZZZZY riders need to pack their common sense and leave their machismo and egos at home. If not, we all will suffer the consequences.

[Zombie Grrl]

Quote: "It's not the motorcycle's fault. It is the rider's responsibility to handle the motorcycle in a safe manner," said Neal Ackerson, state director of ABATE of Maryland Inc., a motorcycling group that numbers several thousand members.

He must have forgotten to add it is the rider's responsibility to handle the motorcycle in a safe and LEGAL manner. I ride, but I choose to ride responsibly, including staying within a reasonable range of the speed limit and wearing protective gear. I don't want your tax dollars spent on my medical care because I choose to drive a motorcycle like an idiot. Driving like an idiot includes competing with a 4 wheel vehicle for space. Motorcycles tend to loose those battles.

I have designed roadways for the past 9 years and I know why posted speeds are what they are...because you can't go much faster than than without potentially loosing control.

Lastly, a friend of mine was on the scene of the 2 cycle wreck last weekend. One of the guys lost a leg and an arm before he died. Do you want your limbs literally laying all over Route 50 for a cheap thrill? Take it to the track! Don't give the rest of us a bad name.

[Honda Cruiser Rider]

I've been riding safely for many thousands of miles for many years. It's bad enough reckless riders risk their own lives doing stupid things at high speeds thinking they're immune to injury or death because they're wearing a helmet and (maybe) some elbow pads, but I have a problem with their inconveniencing, injuring, and killing countless others because of their irresponsible riding. It would be a shame to have to ban sport bikes, but it might be the only way to keep the rest of us safe until they can come up with a way to control these selfish, ignorant riders.

[Partsman]

Ahh, let them ride like fools! There are plenty of people waiting on organs for transplant!

[Zato]

Honda Cruiser rider, shame on a rider for being so dumb. The only thing that needs to be done is train riders and drivers better before gifting them a driver's license.The worse, most self-righteous, drive at 45 in the fast lane because i can, can't handle a car at 60 mph drivers are found right here in America. why? Because a driver's license is almost a right instead of a privilege. I have a NINJA and ride responsibly and have seen GOLD WINGS pass at 100 MPH, so stop giving stupid people excuses. Accidents happen sometimes, but most times somebody stupid is the cause, not machinery, the gun, the knife, the cellphone, the radio.

[Pachacutec]

As a former emergency services worker, I'd say that 9/10 of the auto/bike accident scenes I worked on were accidents that could have been prevented if people had used their heads - WHATEVER you're driving, you need to drive in a safe, responsible manner, and pay FULL attention to your driving. Doesn't make any difference what the safety rating is for your car or bike, doesn't matter what kind of protective gear you're wearing; if you get out on the road and drive in a careless manner, you're bucking the odds. And, if you want to play games with your own life, I guess that's your privilege; however, too often too many innocent people are killed because of people who think the traffic laws apply to "everyone but me."

[Applebum RIVL]

I understand your concerns for us bikers, I have been riding for 6 years and have been in a bike club for 2 years. It's not always us that cause the accidents, you see cars that won't let bikers in the traffic, cut them off, and intentionally run them off the road. All bikers don't ride like that, what about the cars that are driving 100+ mph?? There are cars/trucks that drive like that or even worse and run you off the road aggressive and I see no articles about them! I agree with the controlling the speed as a biker, it is very dangerous to ride that fast and weaving in and out of traffic. It is to each individual to ride with caution, as a biker we have to ride on the defensive side at all times. What about MVA requirements, to obtain your C class drivers license it is required to take the drivers course why not for motorcycle licnese? The law should change there, increase the requirements for class M license to mandate the course to get your class M. I took the course and it was very helpful but too short for a beginner rider. I pray that each biker out there is safe and respect the love for the ride and not disrepect the bike.

[Applebum RIVL]

Honda Cruiser Rider wrote:

I've been riding safely for many thousands of miles for many years. It's bad enough reckless riders risk their own lives doing stupid things at high speeds thinking they're immune to injury or death because they're wearing a helmet and (maybe) some elbow pads, but I have a problem with their inconveniencing, injuring, and killing countless others because of their irresponsible riding. It would be a shame to have to ban sport bikes, but it might be the only way to keep the rest of us safe until they can come up with a way to control these selfish, ignorant riders.

Okay why do we have to be ignorant riders, I've seen cruiser riders do alot of irresponsible things so there is no need to call this ignorant because you are a cruiser doesn't make you the smartest rider does it..Alot of the cruisers I see drinking excessively and hoping on the bike and zooming down the road.

[VSTAR Rider]

Being a rider and living in Indian Head, I can say for certain that is it unnerving when a posse of crotch rockets flys past you doing 120 mph. There have been numerous accidents along MD210 over the years, just as horrific as the most recent ones.

NO.. you can't ban the machine. But you can pass stricter penalities for speeds in excess of 100mph. I think having your bike confiscated on the spot for those kinds of speeds is a good place to start. Concentrate police patrols in areas known for street racing is another positive action. Police can't catch em.. but why try.. Set up an observation/photo/radar station at one intersection.. radio ahead to the waiting police barricade.. make excessive street speeding/racing a felony, haul the riders off to jail, impound the bikes, and strip the riders of their motorcycle licenses.

Yes. there will be riders who ride anyway.. but having to buy a new bike every month is a bigger deterrent than increasing the ticket costs.