Distracted drivers a growing threat to motorcyclists
Distracted drivers a growing threat to motorcyclists
Technology such as mobile phones, stereos and GPS keeping drivers eyes off the road
Long a claim by bikers as a reason for increasing motorcycle fatalities, the argument of distracted drivers is gaining traction with an official position from a leading advocacy group.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports that the Association's Board of Directors adopted an official position on the issue of distracted driving and inattentive vehicle operation at the Board's July 27 meeting.
"Distracted or inattentive driving has become a major concern to the motorcycling community," said AMA Vice President of Government Relations Ed Moreland. "Far too many cases have been documented of motorcyclists being injured or killed as the result of other vehicle operators being distracted or inattentive."
As part of its official statement, the AMA supports legislation that includes enhanced penalty options for distracted and inattentive vehicle operation to be determined by the courts.
Additionally, the AMA is supporting 'the prominent placement of signage that notifies roadway users that the state provides specific sanctions for those convicted of moving violations while operating a motor vehicle in a distracted or inattentive manner' in statement released this week.
Moreland added that the AMA's official statement recognizes that all road users -- car drivers, truck drivers, motorcyclists and even bicyclists -- are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles on public roads and highways. In addition to posing a hazard to other road users and pedestrians, distracted vehicle operation can be every bit as dangerous to the operator.
The full position statement on distracted and inattentive vehicle operation, along with position statements on other issues important to motorcyclists can be found on the AMA website.
The issue has become even more important in recent years as advances in mobile technology have made it easier than ever to become momentarily distracted by operating the controls of a cell phone, stereo system, a global positioning unit, or some other device.
"We've also seen an increase in new state-level legislation designed to address some facet of distracted or inattentive driving," Moreland said. "Most of the bills are well-intentioned. However, almost all focus on only one or a few in-vehicle behaviors, such as talking on a cell phone or text messaging, rather than addressing the main issue. This new position statement gives our staff the guidance it needs to help shape future legislation for the benefit of all road users, particularly motorcyclists."
Technology such as mobile phones, stereos and GPS keeping drivers eyes off the road
Long a claim by bikers as a reason for increasing motorcycle fatalities, the argument of distracted drivers is gaining traction with an official position from a leading advocacy group.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports that the Association's Board of Directors adopted an official position on the issue of distracted driving and inattentive vehicle operation at the Board's July 27 meeting.
"Distracted or inattentive driving has become a major concern to the motorcycling community," said AMA Vice President of Government Relations Ed Moreland. "Far too many cases have been documented of motorcyclists being injured or killed as the result of other vehicle operators being distracted or inattentive."
As part of its official statement, the AMA supports legislation that includes enhanced penalty options for distracted and inattentive vehicle operation to be determined by the courts.
Additionally, the AMA is supporting 'the prominent placement of signage that notifies roadway users that the state provides specific sanctions for those convicted of moving violations while operating a motor vehicle in a distracted or inattentive manner' in statement released this week.
Moreland added that the AMA's official statement recognizes that all road users -- car drivers, truck drivers, motorcyclists and even bicyclists -- are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles on public roads and highways. In addition to posing a hazard to other road users and pedestrians, distracted vehicle operation can be every bit as dangerous to the operator.
The full position statement on distracted and inattentive vehicle operation, along with position statements on other issues important to motorcyclists can be found on the AMA website.
The issue has become even more important in recent years as advances in mobile technology have made it easier than ever to become momentarily distracted by operating the controls of a cell phone, stereo system, a global positioning unit, or some other device.
"We've also seen an increase in new state-level legislation designed to address some facet of distracted or inattentive driving," Moreland said. "Most of the bills are well-intentioned. However, almost all focus on only one or a few in-vehicle behaviors, such as talking on a cell phone or text messaging, rather than addressing the main issue. This new position statement gives our staff the guidance it needs to help shape future legislation for the benefit of all road users, particularly motorcyclists."
Tags: AMA, American, Association, Distracted, Motorcyclist, The, drivers, driving, inattentive, motorcyclists
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Curran on -
All of you texting people stop being idiots and DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Gil Davis on -
I'm in complete agreement, brother, everybody's gotta put the phone down or pull over. I'm thinking on inventing a portable microwave frequency jammer that we can all keep in our vest pockets while on the road. If the phone don't work, they can't use it!!!
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Permalink Reply by Az. Stretch on -
I'VE HAD THE VERY SAME THOUGHT AND WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ON THE MARKET THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THIS...
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Permalink Reply by Gil Davis on
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You know, I recently read a book called "A Tweist of the Wrist", by Keith Code. Although a world champion superbike racer, his book definitely taught me things I would have never though of. I would highly recommend everyone on two wheels to pick it up, it teaches you a whole new way to ride, and as mentioned, although about track racers, 90% of the topics covered in the book can be applied to street riding, even us cruisers and baggers.
I also heard another one--(from my dentist, actually, who also rides a Road King...) he said that regarding all the oblivious cagers out there not paying attention to the bikes, riding a bike is like being a fighter pilot that's out of bullets. The best you can hope for is to outrun or out maneuver them...
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Permalink Reply by Gil Davis on
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The following was an excerpt from an e-mail I received recently. Please have a look at the attached photos. While I cannot confirm the statements made about excessive speed, cell phone usage, etc, I can see that it may be plausible...If you know anyone who regularly uses a cell phone while driving, you might want to casually fire this off to them...Rgds,
Gil
The Honda crotch rocket rider was traveling at approximately
85 mph. The VW driver was talking on a cell phone when she
pulled out from a side street, apparently not seeing the
motorcycle. The riders reaction time was not sufficient
enough to avoid this accident. The car had two passengers
and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The
Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact
and landed 20 feet from where the collision took place.
All three involved (two in the car and the bike rider) were
killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at
the Motorcycle Fair by the Police and Road Safety
Department.
Pass this on to car drivers or soon to be
new drivers, or new motorcycle owners
AND ESPECIALLY EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO HAS A CELL PHONE!!!!!
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Wake up people , Stop talking on Cell phones and
Texting while trying to drive. Put your Cell phone
in the back seat !!! - Attachments:
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Honda vs VW1.bmp, 506 KB -
Honda vs VW2.bmp, 506 KB
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Honda vs VW3.bmp, 506 KB
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Permalink Reply by Vanessa Kingsbury on -
I was just reading Full Throttle (NY/NE) March 2010 Vol. 8 Issue 8. In FACTS& TRIVIA: PUT THAT CELL PHONE DOWN OR... I WILL DO IT FOR YOU!
I'm not going to re-write the whole article but he points out some interesting facts so I'll just quote that part:
"Texting while driving is six times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated. Each year 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 6% every year."
And he further points out:
"...for every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text message spends 4.6 seconds with their eyes off the road."
Besides the fact that there are people out there who just don't care about you as a person because their dentist appointment they're late for is more important than your life the risk goes up exponentially when you add talking/texting to it. EVEN WITH BLUETOOTH!!!! I don't give a flying fart that you have a stupid piece in your ear - people are so friggin' distracted by the conversation itself or with dialing they just aren't paying attention. I'm sure we could allllll share a ton of stories of all the times we've "almost been" hit or run off but we need to fight back. People have told me about carrying knives that they can scratch the car as it swerves into their lane and it'll be easy to discard. Great!But what if throwing the knife away you hit and kill someone?! Someone else said they throw the fork-lock from their bike when cars get too close so they won't have to make contact with the car and lose balance. Wonderful! But what if it bounces back and hits you? Or an innocent car? Or that car swerves violently out of the way and causes a massive wreck? I've settles on zip-tying the loudest damn airhorn I can find to my ape hangers and when those buggers come near me I blast the hell out of them and it usually startles them enough. If you're on the phone (and especially now in the nice weather) I rev my bike nice and loud if they're on the phone. If they roll up the window I catch them at the light and yell "That was Biker Code for hang the FUCK UP! Not close your window!"
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Permalink Reply by Az. Stretch on
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Lady Boo and I were in rush hour traffic on I-40 in Albuquerque last summer and passed an idiot that was talking on one cell phone, texting on another and steering with his knees. He had his window down, so I slowed up till he was next to me. I told him if he shoved both them cell phones up his butt he would get better reception. Then we left him behind with a stupid look on his face struggling for a come-back line, but we were gone...Arizona retirement areas are bad for oldsters left turning in front of bikes that they didn't see! It's happened to several motorcycle officers just this year and made me hope that it would help pass more stricter penalties or at least awareness in this state. I have straight pipes to over-ride peoples phone calls whenever I'm close to an idiot on a cell phone, LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES!
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