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by trangus_1985 1739 days ago
Motorcycling is deceptively safe. It's just that the cost of finding out when you fuck around is very high.

Safe riding is still more dangerous than being in a car, of course. But, the vast majority of motorcycle injuries are due to known dangerous factors such as alcohol, or going too fast through turns.

2 comments

"Safe riding is still more dangerous than being in a car" To the operator. If we count the lethal damage caused to others, that number doesn't look so good...
> we count the lethal damage caused to others

So, that's a pretty hefty claim. I'd like to see some data. :)

A very large chunk of motorcycle accidents are single party (about 25%), the rest involve a car, usually at low speeds such as an unprotected left turn or bad merge.

I did some quick googling and found that motorcycles are less likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents than cars, but I think the the onus is on you to support your claim.

I think you've misread jascii - they are saying riding a motorcycle is more dangerous for the operator, while driving a car is less dangerous for the operator compared to adjacent pedestrians (for instance).
I just quickly want to thank you for your use of the "they" pronoun, while I generally identify as "he/him" it is nice not to have that assumed!
"Passenger cars and light trucks (vans, pickups, and sport utility vehicles) accounted for 46.1% and 39.1%, respectively, of the 4875 deaths, with the remainder split among motorcycles, buses, and heavy trucks." https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/11/4/232

That makes 85.2% of pedestrian fatalities. This does not make automobile traffic a "safe" form of traffic in my book...

> going too fast through turns

Going fast through turns is exactly the point for the majority of riders (all except choppers)

Yes, but not going too fast.

One of the reasons I stopped going on group rides was lead riders who burned through blind corners. I'll take an open corner with good visibility as fast as I dare, but if I can't see through the turn, I take it slowly.

Always ride your own ride.

Let the other guys arrive at the scene of the accident first.

You, me, a couple of other middle aged guys all hanging back on our sports tourers, while the crotch rockets are off antagonising the cage dwellers.

We'll all arrive in time for coffee, no sweat.

So completely spot, on my friend.
Yea you’re right. When riding in group, it should be ok to stay behind, as long as the last rider of a split-group waits at road forks.