May stands for Motorcycle Mindfulness

Finally, an assignment I can't speak from first-hand experiences and really from the heart. Usually it takes me some time to find an article or blog I feel I can write enough about. This time, I found two! Let me begin with giving some background information to credit my point of view. I have been riding motorcycles on public roads now for a year. I have laid my bike down a few times as well. "Laying a bike down" puts the focus on the vehicle, not the rider. Jackets, gloves and helmets can protect you from road rash and save your life, but there is still the impact with hitting the ground or a vehicle with your body that cannot be ignored. Debris in the road, roadkill, litter, cracks, potholes, etc are potentially fatal to a motorcyclist. When you get a small fender bender in the parking lot and mindlessly, carelessly don't clean up the black plastic that looks like road tar and a motorcyclist drives over it turning out of a Walmart parking lot, the front wheel rides on that plastic like a ski, and the rider goes down. I know from experience. Motorcyclists are watching for so much more than just other cars. Constantly checking for clearances, distracted drivers, potentially dangerous situations, obstacles in the road etc that most automobile drivers don't think twice about because it isn't thought of as, as life threatening.



Geneva wrote a blog "Critiquing:Motorcyclists and safety" commenting on A.Jones' blog "Motorcyclists and Safety". I must say, some of the views in the former blog are a bit skewed. See, I am one of those motorcyclists you think are reckless, but I witness all the reckless driving firsthand more so than yourself. I ride next to drivers and can see into their vehicles. I witness people eating bowls of soup, tacos which basically disassemble themselves while being consumed, hamburgers etc while driving. Eating while driving is distracting. The term "distracted driving" refers to anything that takes your eyes, hands or mind away from driving. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to several surveys by insurance companies and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tell me you, have never eaten food while driving? I have. I've witnessed drivers constantly, texting while driving. Which is not only distracting but unlawful in Austin. These drivers I wish to avoid.

Personally, I would rather have motorists behind me, where they can see me. I do speed, and rather frequently, but I'd rather be in front than on the side or behind a motorists where they cannot see me. Turning your head to check lane clearance is just good practice. Cars have blind spots and some are larger than others. It took me one scare to not ride next to a car again. People don't often check their blind spots, and I don't want my fate, my life to be in the hands of someone else's carelessness. It's called defensive driving, and it's understood more so by motorcyclists. As for speeding being reckless, I say it's a lot safer than riding next to the woman eating tacos on her drive back from her shortened lunch break due to traffic or the business man that can't miss another sick day eating a bowl of soup on his way to work. These sound like brash examples, but I've seen it. Lane splitting is against the law, but between stopped vehicles, being between two cars is the safest. These measures are actually taught in the motorcycle driving course. If someone's brakes go out or doesn't judge a distance and ends up rear ending a driver, being between the automobiles where you can potentially escape the accident is much safer. I'd rather not be sandwiched between two heavy pieces of machinery. Again, this is all defensive driving which is taught in the class. Popping wheelies is reckless. I agree with you on that. I think perhaps your perspective on motorcyclists may be a bit influenced by those that are reckless and that ride without protection.



As far as A.Jones' blog goes, there should be more motorcycle safety promotion. A lot of drivers are not aware of the risks that motorcyclists take. There are a lot more things to be aware of. Drunk riding accounts for href="http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Alcohol_Awareness.pdf"46% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle safety promotions need to go for both drivers. Many people aren't as mindful for other motorists as they should be and motorcyclists are at the top of the list for accidents involving serious injury. Motorcycle awareness promotion is very important. Dedicating a month to it is not meaningless. There are months dedicated to other things so dedicating a month to promote awareness I think is potentially life saving, potentially saving my life, and therefore I think it is important. The statement, helmets save lives is wrong. Helmets CAN save lives. Personally, I never ride without a helmet, but any knowing adult knows that it's wiser to ride with than without a helmet. There are already laws about helmets and mandating the use of them. Any rider, under 18 is required to have a helmet, and any passenger on the bike is also required. I don't agree with riding without a helmet but everyone knows, fatal accidents are less likely with a helmet. It should remain a choice.





At the end of this video it reads "What do we have to do to get noticed?"

Texas decides things may be too slow of pace

A bill was introduced in early April proposing some speed limits across the state of Texas to be raised to 80-85 miles per hour. House Bill 1353 doesn’t actually state that the speed limits would be raised to speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour, but what it does say is that many roads once deemed fit by studies, would be raised to 75 and perhaps even further.

Raising speed limits seems like an acceptable bill by many motorists driving in Texas. It seems like a bill that would be easily passed. Many other states in the United States already have speed limits set higher than 70. The speed change from sun up to nightfall is probably the biggest objection most motorists have. When does the speed limit actually drop? At what time do motorists pay attention to the black-with-white-lettered speed limit signs instead of the white signs? When can truckers speed back up to 70 in the morning? If there was one set speed limit, these confusions could be resolved. Certainly there have been some civil cases against the state of Texas regarding these changes and tickets issued. Texas is a fairly flat state. Many stretches of roads are long, flat and have clear visibility. Lowered speed limits seem like a hindrance. Numerous roads in Europe have high speed limits already set. Only 13 states in the United States allow speeds up to 75 mph on rural interstates. Allowing higher speeds in Texas would potentially ease the congestion of traffic, as well as allow motorists to travel through the state faster and residents to commute quicker.

Higher speed limits sound great to most but with the higher speeds comes higher rates of injuries and death. Most accidents occur at high speeds or are involved with alcohol. Because of this, House Bill 1353 may get rejected. Granted, 13 other states have speed limits set up to 75 mph and many others don’t have the night-day limitations. 80 miles per hour seems like a high speed limit to be set, and it is. No other state has this speed limit, and no other state has a limit set any higher. Should Texas be the first? No, Texas does not need to be the example for high mortality rates because of the liberal attitudes towards speed limits. If deaths can be avoided, the measures to do so should be taken, or not taken to fix what isn’t broke. Speed limits restricted to the solar cycle should however be changed. They’re a hassle. There is not an exact time every day when the speed drops. Releasing the night speed restrictions would alleviate a lot of frustrations and disputable tickets. Texas residents should be happy with any increase they can get. Oklahoma, which is an abolished word amongst many Texans, has a 75mph speed limit and no special night restrictions. Texas is in fact the only state that does have a night restriction. Why then, does Texas still have this restriction? There cannot be more wildlife crossing interstates in Texas than there are in the more rural northwestern states? 49 out of 50 can’t be wrong?

Raising speed limits to 80+mph I don’t agree with. There are limits on a lot of things. Medications have dosage limits to protect society. Speed limits are set to protect society just as well. An increased speed limit would be nice, but the loss of a night speed limit would be totally acceptable and could be backed by studies from other states. Texas, lose the limit.