tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post8212130631351977976..comments2024-02-23T11:23:45.971-05:00Comments on Lost Motorcyclist: Drivers Are Not All BlindLost Motorcyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-76203837079773981502010-01-06T10:18:37.749-05:002010-01-06T10:18:37.749-05:00I suspect I may have linked this British analysis ...I suspect I may have linked this <a href="http://mile-muncher.co.uk/dft_rdsafety_035422.pdf" rel="nofollow">British analysis of motorcycle accidents</a> previously.<br /><br />My sense is that North American findings would be quite similar (except, of course, for the fact that 'right turns' should be read as 'left turns' ;-)<br /><br />The theme that emerges (once one excludes the predictable accidents from very young, inexperienced and overly aggressive male riders) is that of <b>ROWV</b> (right of way violation) accidents. In those, '<i>less than 20% of these involve a motorcyclist who rated as either fully or partly to blame for the accident</i>.'<br /><br />Of the three findings in that report, the first was: '<i>There seems to be a particular problem surrounding other road users’ perception of motorcycles, particularly at junctions. Such accidents often seem to involve older drivers with relatively high levels of driving experience who nonetheless seem to have problems detecting approaching motorcycles</i>.'<br /><br />In my humble opinion, part of the problem is our society's attitude to traffic 'accidents.' In fact, many (if not the majority) of those 'accidents' are due to negligence - drivers simply not taking their responsibilities behind the wheel seriously enough. <br /><br />Police and crown attorney resources are limited, so charges of 'careless driving' are generally plead down to some lessor offense. The laying of a charge of 'criminal negligence,' even in serious 'accidents,' is rare.<br /><br />Even if the driver is convicted of 'careless driving' the penalty is generally the minimum $200, and the six demerit points are in most cases not enough for license suspension. <br /><br />The Ontario Highway Act on 'careless driving:' <i>Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway</i>.'<br /><br />'Due care and attention'? Perhaps the Ministry of Transport needs to remind drivers that the act means 'due care and attention' to the act of driving, not to keeping up with your phone calls, email or makeup. <br /><br />As far as '<i>reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway</i> ... well, when was the last time we saw any of that?Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.com