Motorcycle Safety

By Sam Hoover

Reporter

People tend to blame motorcycles for being reckless drivers, but in reality, the people behind the wheel of a car are just as reckless.

Imagine a baby, a tiny little defenseless baby. And that baby is where it is supposed to be- in its designated play area where it has the same rights and assumed protections as other babies and adults in the room. It’s supposed to be a safe place for everyone as long as everyone is cautious and follows the rules and watches out for everyone else. There’s nothing wrong with this scenario, right?

Then imagine this giant hulk of a human being storms into the room. He pays no attention to anyone else and has no regard for anyone else’s safety. He runs into a full-grown human, shoulders into another guy, and heads straight for a baby playing in the middle of the room. Unfortunately, the baby gets hurt.

But really, it’s not the baby’s fault is it? The guy who didn’t regard safety rules is responsible for the injury wouldn’t you say? Then why when there are vehicle accidents people automatically say that motorcycles are dangerous and are to blame?

Motorcycles are, by their nature, far less crash worthy than closed vehicles. Many can argue that bikes are less stable than four wheeled vehicles, but operating a motorcycle requires a combination of both mental and physical skill.  The number of motorcycle helmet use has raised 4% since 2015. Now 65% percent of riders are wearing helmets.

Riders can take precautions to ensure their safety on their end by wearing a helmet, wearing bright reflective colors, and avoiding riding at night. Riders can only do so much to make sure they are safe, but it also requires vehicles to do the same.

Debating whether riding a motorcycle is safer than driving a car is an argument that has been going on for years. The fear of riding a motorcycle is more than likely based on prejudice and what one has heard, rather than based on personal experience. Just like a vehicle motorist, careless motorcyclists can kill themselves if they are not careful.

Motorcycles have a safety. Riders can evade better, see more, and focus on the road without as many distractions as a car.

Local biker Kenny Arnold tells of a recent incident outside of Neosho. On Sunday, Oct. 21 there was an event held on the Neosho Square where some of the local Motorcycle chapters gathered to have a toy drive for kids in need. There was a total of 142 bike in attendance. The pack left the square and headed to drop off the toys. When traveling a truck pulled through the pack and t-boned two of the bikes.

The drivers excuse? “I didn’t see them.”