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eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
Tips in Preventing Motorcycle Injuries
by Kay Zetkin
Safety in riding motorcycles in order to prevent
injuries is a very critical issue especially during the
peak of motorcycle season. The American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons are very much concerned about this
issue since there are almost always a lot of motorcycle
accidents happening at least one every few days.
Most injuries noted from the people brought in the Level
One Trauma Units range from serious musculoskeletal
injuries, open fractures and head traumas from
motorcycle accidents. The increasing accidents are
linked to the increased number of motorcycles on the
road. Records show that since 1997, motorcycles sales
increased to more than 90%. Last 2001, motorcycles
represented only 2.2 percent of all registered vehicles
in the United States and accounted for 0.34 percent of
vehicle miles traveled. However, crashes involving
motorcycles accounted for 7.6 percent of total traffic
fatalities on America's roadways.
As recently reported by the US Department of
Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), in 2002 there were 42,815
fatalities from motorcycle accidents. What's alarming is
this is the highest level of fatality report since 1990.
While some accidents cause injuries or lifetime
paralysis, some result to fatalities. Thus, these
incidents should be a constant reminder for
motorcyclists to protect themselves.
According to Maureen Finnegan, MD, professor at the
University of Texas and orthopaedic surgeon at Parkland
Hospital in Dallas, most motorcycle injuries involve the
extremities and the spinal cord. Majority of fatalities
are results of head injuries. Thus, she said that the
most important tip for motorcycle safety is to wear a
helmet.
Wearing helmets are estimated to be 29 percent effective
in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in
preventing brain injuries for motorcyclists. Another
thing is the wearing of proper clothing in riding and of
course, really learning how to ride a motorcycle and
handle certain situations throughout the ride.
Here are other helpful tips in preventing motorcycle
injuries:
•Get professionally trained in motorcycle riding.
Research shows that more than 90 percent of all riders
that were involved in crashes are just self-taught or
taught by friends.
•Secure your license to drive. Nearly 27 percent or one
out of four motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in
2001 was not properly licensed.
•Do not drink and ride. Those most at risk in getting
into accidents are inebriated motorcyclists.
•Use helmets that meet the DOT (Department of
Transportation) standards.
•Wear protective clothing - this includes goggles or sun
shades for eye protection, jacket, full- fingered
gloves, long pants and over-the-ankle boots.
•Make sure that your motorcycle clothing and gears are
made of abrasion-resistant material, such as leather.
Avoid loose, flailing clothing that could impair your
vision.
•Wearing brightly colored garments may help other
vehicles see/notice you.
•Proper maintenance and monitoring of your bike is of
high importance. Observe proper lane positioning of your
bike to further increase your visibility to drivers.
Keeping a "space cushion" between your bike and other
traffic should also be kept in mind.
•Avoid sharing a lane with a car since its driver may
not expect you to be there or may not become aware of
your presence. Most drivers look out for other bigger
vehicles that they may fail to notice you instantly
unless something has happened already.
•Ride according to your skill level. Never overestimate
yourself. -30-
For comments and inquiries about the article visit
http://www.motorcyclepartsbin.com
About the Author
Kay Zetkin discovered the pleasure of writing through
her daily journals as a teen-ager. Writing in it helped
sort out her thoughts, relieve her feelings and record
what she observes of the world.
For her, writing is an effective tool to express your
viewpoints... To write is already to choose, thus,
writing should be done along with a critical mind and a
caring soul. She hopes to become more professional,
skilled and mature in her craft. |
