Already this year, more than twice as many people have been killed in motorcycle wrecks in South Hampton Roads than in all of 2008.
The deaths of two men in Virginia Beach during the weekend bring the total number of motorcycle fatalities in the five cities so far this year to 13. Last year, six people died in motorcycle wrecks. In 2007, there were 10 fatalities; in 2006, there were 7.
The deaths of Scott Allen Neill, 40, and George Michael Watts, 39, in separate crashes also marked the fourth time this year that police have investigated multiple motorcycle fatalities within a week.
Warmer weather tends to draw more people to their motorcycles and to the roads, said Adam Bernstein, a Virginia Beach police spokesman and motorcycle rider.
“You’ve got your hard-core riders that ride year-round, then you have most of us who are the fair-weather riders,” Bernstein said. “When it starts to warm up, you see a lot more bikes out.”
Bernstein said that along with a safety course offered at Tidewater Community College and at Bayside Harley Davidson in Portsmouth, military bases also have safety courses. He also recommends riders buy helmets certified and made by reputable companies and completely avoid alcohol before going for a ride.
“Riding the bike isn’t the hard part. The hard part is watching what everybody else is doing,” Bernstein said. “Your reaction time slows down, and reaction time is paramount on a motorcycle.”
In this weekend's fatalities:
Neill and a female passenger were riding a 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle south in the 800 block of Daimler Drive about 6:40 p.m. Saturday when Neill drove straight on a curve, leaving the left side of the road, hitting a mailbox and then a power pole, said Officer Margie Long, a police spokeswoman. Alcohol was a factor and Neill was not wearing a helmet, she said. He died on the way to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. The passenger also was taken to a hospital where she was in stable condition. Her name was not released.
In the second crash, at 7:50 p.m. Saturday, Watts and a female passenger were riding east on Witchduck Road to the intersection with Alfriends Trail, near Sentara Bayside Hospital. The motorcycle struck a BMW sedan that had stopped at a stop sign on Alfriends at Witchduck before pulling away, seeing the motorcycle and stopping when it was struck on the driver’s side of the car, a police news release said. Watts, of Virginia Beach, died at the scene and the passenger was taken to a hospital. Her name was not released. She had broken bones and was in stable condition. Alcohol use by Watts was considered a factor in the crash.
Staff writer Lauren King contributed to this story.
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Alcohol and bikes dont mix
It is pretty safe to say that alcohol and bikes dont mix. Between booze and high speeds that accounts for most of the accidents where the motorcyclist is at fault. Even in accidents where the car driver is at fault alcohol can slow reaction times. As someone said here already you may not have been at fault in the wreck but the point is pretty much moot if you are dead.
Too many of these bikers are just fair weather bar hoppers and the only riding they do is to and from the biker bars. Inexperience and booze are killers.
Motorcycle wercks
My beloved friend Jay has been killed 8/18 in a motorcycle accident. RIP dear Jay, I have no doubt you are with our Lord and Savior.
practice common sense
Bad or impaired judgment often brings a person face to face with his or her own mortality. A lesson learned can be a life saved.
Right of way doesn't matter...
when you're outweighed by a factor of 10. I'm one of those "hard core" motorcyclists Adam Bernstien alluded to in his interview. I haven't owned a car since the mid '70's; I do a 60 mile commute every day on one of several types of bikes I own. I've survived this long by accepting the fact that regardless of who's at fault, if I argue with a car, I'll pay the higher price. Successful motorcyclists are those who are mature enough to admit that, then ride (and dress) accordingly.
You're an inspiration to me. . .
As a cyclist and ex racer, I get so enraged by idiots who can't drive, I've been lowered to spitting on their cars, LOUD swearing and previously, throwing marbles at them.
I wish the Police had the budget and staff to put clones out on the road, and await bad behavior by motorist. You could do a half hour show like "Speeders" about it.
given the "fixes" you've
given the "fixes" you've described I'm surprised your keyboard let you call anyone else an idiot.
Another good thing
Bikers use MUCH less gas and are therefore more eco friendly than car drivers...Sometimes I get frustrated seeing them out en masse but then I remind myself that they are pretty cool people...
Just another pro-biker tidbit...
Not all riders are idiots............
I am a female rider that has been riding cruisers and sports bikes for a few years...no I am not a SUPER experienced driver, but I do NOT drink & drive, however, I have been cut off SEVERAl times by cars not paying attention. The majority of them are on the cell phones or just don't look. Most riders know to place themselves in the view of other drivers by keeping a visual in the side mirrors and not riding in blind spots. I was even cut off by an Ice Cream Truck as well as had to lay my bike down twice due to a unattentive driver turning left in front of me. The problem is everyone is in such a rush they don't care about anyone but themselves. I agree IF all drivers had to ride a motorcycle before getting their license they would be more attentive to riders. And don't complain about the noise we make cause we knock baffles out of our exhaust system so you can hear us over your loud music.
I too have been cut off and
I too have been cut off and nearly run into "SEVERAL TIMES" by inattentive drivers. These folks were are cell phones, not looking or depending on me not to run into them. The difference is I'm driving a car. I bet nearly every car driver in Hampton Roads has had similar experiences. What is your point? Riding a motor ycle is inheriently more risky to the operator than driving in a car. This isn't justice, this is physics. And no, I'm not getting on a motorcycle just so you can participate in risky behavior. Add a chapter in the DMV manual but don't try to get safety conscious people on one of those organ grinders. No thanks, have fun and ride safely.
The ages are amazing
What amazes me are the ages of the riders that were killed. For all the young people that ride their sport bikes well beyond the speed limit, racing in and out of traffic, scaring the bejesus out of people when they pop wheelies as they're going down the interstate, I would think more of that group would be winning Darwin awards. You can drive a car stupidly and park it into solid objects or you can ride a motorcycle the same way. The difference is the amount of ablative 'armor' there is around you. Either way, there's a good chance you're going to end up dead.
Goes both ways
Yes there are some careless motorcycle riders. But there are way more careless car drivers. People in cars are talking on cellphones, texting on cellphones and just plain not payaing attention. I ride a large touring motorcycle, with plenty of headlights up front. Those driving cars will look right at you and pull out in front of you. And there are pleny of others that just dont look. SO while there is a large number of motorcycle riders that kill themselves, there are plenty of motorcyclists that have been killed by cars as well. There are careless motorcycle riders, just as there are many more careless drivers in cars.
I agree, but motorcycles,
I agree, but motorcycles, lights and all, are still harder to see than a car. This makes them more likely not to be seen. crashing a motorcycle, all things being equal, is going to be more dangerous than crashing a car. Let's recap:
1. Motorcycles are harder to see and thus more likely not to be seen
2. Crashing on a motorcycle is more dangerous than crashing in a car
That about covers it. Sure we should all be careful, courteous and attentive (I always strive to drive thus), but given the sheer volume of traffic and human nature, this is not going to happen. Crashes will. Just like any other thing, motorcyclists are responsibility for their own health and well being. Read points 1 and 2 again.
all the above
I am 42 y/o and have found myself in every situation noted here by the author and posters. Everyone has to understand that riding a m/c is like flying in a plane. Look how many successful flights there are daily, yet one crash and it's the end to safe flying as we know it. M/c's are no different. Every day of the week, month and year there are many bikes on the highways that have no incidents. But let one, or two/three happen on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and everyone is pointing fingers again. Sorry folks, it happens...hopefully not to you or me but if it does, hopefully we'll fair better than some. I have to agree though that the VAST MAJORITY of crotch rocket riders are waaay out of control with their riding habits. Not very often you see a Harley rider on the rear wheel at 75mph down I-64. Also, I like how they said alcohol (on the rider's part) was a factor in a vehicle pulling out from a side street causing the Witchduck Rd accident!!
As a friend of mine once said, in a plane or on a motorcycle...if you have one, it's gonna be a big one!!
MC Crashes
Most are self induced moments of human stupidity which results in some form of bad consequence, like death.
Donorcycles
Maybe we should require all motorcycle riders to fill out the organ donation cards... I have been riding since I was 12 and it really scares me seeing some guy on a brand new Harley riding right down the center of the oil slick (if you do not know what I am talking about, you should not be on a motorcycle) or wearing one of those stupid half helmets or weaving in and out of traffic like you are invincible. You may say that the evil car drivers are at fault, but facts are facts.
I was wondering if they still taught that
Thanks for mentioning the oil slick thing. Years ago when I started riding, it was common knowledge that riding in the center of a lane subjected the bike's tires to possibly being coated with a film of oil. Riding in the cars' left vehicle track helped you to avoid oil droppings as well as allowing the biker to be more visible to oncoming traffic, and cause overtaking traffic to use the full passing lane rather than part of the bikers' riding lane.
Again – missing facts!!!
Every year this paper prints a one sided article about how deaths have increased without really looking at the statistics. That is both irresponsible and poor journalism. I WILL NOW ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN!!! (YES, I’m getting upset). What is the proportional increase in crashes and fatalities to the increase in motorcycle ownership? Stop scaring the public to sell more ad space, and accept the fact that motorcycles are going to increase in ownership. How about an article that respects these “people” who have died and put things into a fair perspective with “all” the facts?
Contribute to an INFORMED discussion
The most thorough analysis of the causes of motorcycle crashes is the Hurt Report (1981), summarized below:
Here is a summary of the Hurt Report findings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_findings_in_the_Hurt_Report
Finding #1 Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
Finding #4 In the single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide-out and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering. (in other words, about 1/6 of the crashes).
Finding #8 The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
Finding #9 Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
Finding #16 The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is app
Drunk Driving
Would the "fair perspective" be to spell out exactly how much they had to drink, where and over what period of time; or do you want it to be an article about how they're wonderful and its society that cruelly drove them to ride drunk?
Would you be making the same statement if they'd run down a woman crossing the street with a baby carriage?
Here are some real facts
According to the NHTSA data from 1995-2004-Motorcycle ownership increased by 128%, and fatalities increased by 80%. Proportionally that is a decline.
While ownership has jumped, fatality rates per 100k registered motorcycles have dropped since 1994. But not by much, and trends show a slight rise.
80% of motorcycle fatalities are single vehicle crashes, but my experience questions that. I have over 35yrs riding experience, and during that time I average 6-10 close calls each year with automobiles that ignore my right of way. If they didn’t see me would they have known if I flew off into the weeds, and how can an officer question a dead man?
Keywords here-education for all drivers, higher penalties for right of way violations, and convictions.