What are statistics telling us?

Too often statistics and surveys tell the audience what the presenter wants them to believe.  The following statistics will show factual information from the State of Wisconsin, Department of Transportation.  This article is meant to alarm you the reader to the point where one wonders, "Am I good enough to stay alive on a motorcycle?"  If you ask this question of yourself, then you already know the answer, "You aren't, but you could get much better".  

Dated June 17, 2012 the Department of Motor Vehicle "Weekly Fatality Report" for Wisconsin shows motorcycle fatalities are up 35% from the same time last year!  As of June 17, 2012 Wisconsin has seen 36 motorcycle operators and 4 passengers die on Wisconsin roads, this compared to 25 operators and 1 passenger in 2011.  I think we can all agree that even one death, is one  too many.  Wisconsin Bureau of Transportation Safety has an ad campaign that says, "Zero in Wisconsin".  This translates to zero fatalities on Wisconsin roads.  This is our goal, yours and mine!  

I feel motorcycles fatalities have increased this year because of; warmer weather in March, brought many riders out earlier than expected, more disposable income to spend on motorcycles, and possibly gasoline prices that showed an early year increase that many thought would surpass record highs.  Add all this reasons to the fact so few riders feel the need to get more skilled, become safer and smarter motorcyclists.

Wisconsin has many training opportunities for you to become a safer rider.  They can offer these one and two day classes, but it is still up to you, the rider to attend and then use these skills to become better.  Some of these classes include; 

The Street Rider Course 2: This course is for riders who wish to enhance their basic skills and strategies to develop a deeper understanding of perceptual street riding strategies. A brief classroom session is provided for administrative activities and the Street Smart-Rider Perception Program with the balance of the four- to five-hour course conducted on various routes throughout the surrounding area.

The Ultimate Bike Bonding Rider Course: This course is for experienced or seasoned riders and is designed to improve a rider’s overall riding performance through smooth and precise control operation as well as body positioning on the motorcycle. Short classroom segments are woven into a full day (total of eight hours) of a wide variety of riding exercises.

The Advance Rider Course: This course is for experienced or seasoned riders who wish to enhance their personal risk management, sharpen their perception and hazard awareness, and improve their cornering, braking, and crash avoidance skills. The course consists of approximately three-plus hours of classroom and four-plus hours of on-cycle riding in a controlled environment.

Wisconsin is the only state that offers a mobile classroom known as THE REF or Transportable High-End Rider Education Facility.  Check out the schedule and plan on attending one of the many events THE REF is at.  Many certified RiderCoaches are on-hand to answer your questions, provide tips and just talk motorcycling - this at a price you can afford - FREE! 

So what's your excuse for not wanting to get better?  Do you want to be just another statistic next Monday morning when the State releases the weekly fatality report?  Well, we don't want you to be, we want to live - Zero in Wisconsin!

Keep riding strong!  Keep riding smart, sober and safe!