Regardless of how we may act, young adults are not invincible. Just ask Peter Lenz, professional motorcycle racer of Vancouver, WA. He died last Sunday after succumbing to injuries incurred during a warm-up lap at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After falling from his bike, Peter was run over by Xavier Zayat. Peter was just 13 years old.
With fluctuating gas prices, motorcycles seem a logical option. They're generally more affordable and have more efficient gas mileage to boot. And let's be honest: they're just plain cool. But does looking cool outweigh danger?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 5,290 motorcycle fatalities in 2008--increased over 130% since 1998--and some 96,000 motorcycle-related injuries. Of these stats, NHTSA estimates that helmet use saved 1,829 lives.
Outfitting yourself with proper headgear (37% effective in preventing death, according to the NHTSA report), Kevlar-armored jackets, riding pants, gloves and ankle-protecting, composite boots may help avoid brain trauma and road rash, but these items will not account for other drivers. In 2008, 47% of motorcycle fatalities involved collisions with other vehicles. Such was the case for Peter Lenz.
But Peter died on a confined course with professional drivers. The highways of the world, however, are not driven by professionals. They're driven with distraction. They're driven by amateurs.
So consider your options before choosing motorcycles for transportation. The numbers don't lie. The same NHTSA report stated that motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely to die in traffic accidents than car passengers. When investing your life, what's most affordable may not always be the safest. Just ask Peter Lenz, 13-year-old racer from Vancouver, WA.
Rest in peace, Peter.
--Chris
Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.
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