Triumphrat

HAP

Cat. Is that all the old girl could do? Maybe you should trade her in.

Thruxtonbill

So you've never broken the speed limit?

kcaja1

I'm going to rent a scooter riding 2 up in Paris in two weeks and I'll be able to compare

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--Power is nothing without control--
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Brodino

Trying riding a bike in India. Survival of the fittest is all I can say!

Spoogie

The numbers gathered are per capita driving deaths for all motor vehicles, yet this would translate to motorcycles and the overall safety of the country in question:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-dev...angerous-roads

The US is 2.3 times higher than Germany, for example. But it's still a great deal lower than many places. Cook Islands is 3.2 times higher than the US. South Africa is also very dangerous, ranking the third most fatalities per capita at 2.4 times higher. Like Germany, most of Western Europe is about a third of US rates.

No surprise here. By and large, Americans are bad drivers. This plays out every day from my vantage point.

williamr

US per capita death rate is high, but that's down to US drivers and riders. I've driven and ridden a lot in the States in the past and found it in many ways easier and safer than in most of Europe as roads are generally better, with better sight lines, and in many ways American drivers are more disciplined than most Europeans (Germany excepted), but then you see them doing something stupid and you can see where the accident rate comes from. They don't seem to understand defensive driving or have any understanding that another driver might make a mistake. That isn't everybody, of course.

The thread about deer collisions is an example. The US attitude is to ride normally and hope (and expect) that the deer will stay off the road. The European attitude is more to assume that they won't and ride a lot slower. Again, not everybody, but enough on both sides of the pond to make a difference. As a point of interest, the UK stats for a small urbanised island were quite staggering in terms of the numbers of collisions with deer. The numbers of drivers and riders injured in those collisions is miniscule.

Rob

Spoogie

Many places in the US have strict controls on hunting, and in the last 30 years the deer population has exploded. I live in a well populated area of NC and see them every day. It was the same when I lived in CA, in TX, in OR...

As far as drivers in the US goes, many certainly don't think anything will happen to them. Deer only aim for other cars...

But this is true of all hazards when viewed from the eyes of many Americans. The risks simply don't apply to them.

You almost have to wonder, too, if motorcycle collisions are a function of the size of bikes. Harleys all the rage in the US and those bikes weigh 800-1000 lbs or more. What's worse, most people riding them have only the skills to survive perfect conditions, and no skills whatsoever when it comes to anything remotely going sideways.

Case in point: Last year, a friend of a friend was in a horrific crash that involved a deer at night. He was on a respirator for three months and it was touch and go; caused by a collision with a deer -- then his buddy collided into him. He'd been riding over 30 years accident free, but still didn't understand basic riding. They were both riding Harleys. Go figure.

But guess what? It was still his fault and the fault of his riding partner. They, and their friends, blame the deer.

Twisty King

Riding a motorcycle anywhere is more dangerous than the alternatives. There are many factors that will make it less safe no matter where you are. The best thing to do is be prepared for anything and always be aware of your surroundings. Take all the steps you can to keep your self safe and pray for the best. If a cager intends to take you out, it can happen anywhere at anytime.

Spoogie

well put.

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'07 Tiger 1050 (sold)
'08 KLR 650 (685) (sold)
'08 Tiger 1050 ABS

triplestrength

Except being on a bicycle. The death rate is worse than motorcycles.

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