Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Apparently it's my fault!!

[webbyc]

I don't know whether anyone else saw this, but in today's paper I came across an article entitled "Rise in motorcyclists blamed for the failure to reduce road deaths". Reading the article the following is worthy of comment:

"Mr Jamieson (transport minister) said that one of the main reasons why the death rate had stuck at about 3,400 was the popularity of high-performance motorcycles. Almost a fifth of people who died on the roads in 2002 were motorcyclists. The largest proportion of these were so-called 'born-again' bikers, men in 30s and 40s riding machines over 500cc. A strategy on cutting motorcycle deaths will be announced in the autumn".

So there you have it, I fit into that age bracket and ride a high-performance bike, so I'm to blame for the increase in the number of deaths. What seems to be left out is the reduction in the numbers of traffic police leading to an increase in the number of drivers speeding and also drink driving. Of course this will have no impact at all, it is after all, firmly and squarely my fault.

[Col996s]

I don't think you can take all the blame webbyc....it's my fault as well!

[NBs996]

Yeah, lets just blame webby

[skidlids]

I'm in that age and bike group also, but have never given up the bikes so I'm not a born again.

Surely part of the blame has to be the large increase in traffic on the roads caused by the reduced speed limits. One journey I do on a regular bassis use to take me 35 mins sticking to the speed limits it now takes 55 mins on a quiet evening. Now if I left home at 19.55 and arrived at 20:30 I wouldn't meet those who started their journeys at 20:35, now as I arrive around 20:50 I will meet those drivers on the road after 20:30 which obviously increases my chance of getting involved in a accident with them, when originally it was a impossibility.
So maybe the authorities should accept some of the blame for the increase in accident figures

[Monty]

Kev, all that proves is that there are Lies, Dam Lies, and Statistics.
But since Webby has generously offered to take the blame who am I to stop him, and anyway it can't be MY fault 'cause I'm older than that....................

John

[ducatisps]

I wonder how they established they were"born again" bikers - did they ask them posthumously about their riding experience. What is a "born again biker" anyway?

[AK]

Webby - your'e a bloke, so its definately your fault



C

[Desmondo]

I always knew there was something I didn't like about you Chris. I'll blame you too

[rockhopper]

Most of the articles i've read appear to say that the majority of bike accidents these days are single vehicle accidents, typically the rider loosing control on a left hand bend and drifting into oncoming traffic.
Thats certainly what i have noticed as i've been out and about. I cant think of a single bike accident that i've seen recently that has involved another vehicle. I'm not saying that they dont happen, of course they do.

I live in an area thats popular with bikes so we tend to get more than our fair share of incidents.

[JasonBoswell]

I'm just a "born biker" as never rode before I got to 30-ish. Think I'm absolved of all blame on this one

Issue here is one of public choice, is it not? Theres no denying it, biking is bloody dangerous and we all know the ultimate price for our hobby/passion/sport. Making a cut to an absolute target like the "number of road deaths" is to all intents and purposes saying that the Govt intends to curb our individual choice in the matter.

Yep, theres a cost to road deaths.. someone has to close the roads and clear up afterwards, but surely this cant be the reason for such an intention - we could save much more by, say, not going to war so often.

Nope, all smacks of the same old story...Govt chases votes by disadvantaging a small section of society in order to brag to the majority.