More motorcycles, more accidents on Clark, Floyd roads

By MELISSA MOODY
Melissa.Moody@newsandtribune.com

August 26, 2008 10:23 am

— Chuck Adams has been an officer with the Clark County Sheriff’s Department for 28 years. And he has been riding motorcycles for 35.
But these days, he’s sharing the road with a lot more bikes than when he started riding in 1978. The number of motorcycles traveling Indiana’s city streets and state highways is on the rise, and many point to gas prices as the cause.
“Gas prices certainly contribute to more scooters and motorcycles,” Adams said.
S&S Powersports in Clarksville can’t keep the smaller motorcycles in stock because of the economy, said sales manager Jason Andres.
“And seven times out of 10, people are purchasing them because of gas prices,” he said.
Andres drives two motorcycles — a big, shiny one for cruising and a smaller Suzuki for riding around town. Andres’ Suzuki, which has a few modifications, gets about 51 mpg, but a stock Suzuki straight from the store would get up to 58 mpg, he said.
And that makes those motorcycles on par with the latest hybrid cars from Toyota and Honda.
But more motorcycles on the roads means more accidents. The number of accidents involving a motorcycle or moped in Indiana increased 18 percent from 2005 to 2007. If current trends in 2008 continue — with about 2,400 accidents this year — the number of accidents will have increased 25 percent from 2007 at the close of the year.
Motorcycle fatalities increased about 7 percent nationwide from 2006 to 2007, and injuries increased 17 percent.
Typically, crashes involve a motorcycle and a car — motorcycle only accidents are rare, said Chuck Adams, public information officer for the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, and a motorcycle rider. “Statistically, the majority of motorcycle-vehicle accidents are vehicles turning in front of motorcycles,” he said. “I attribute a lot of accidents to blind spots on vehicles and inexperienced motorcycle drivers. There’s a lot of people purchasing motorcycles that have never been on one before.”
Adams said the regulations for motorcycle drivers are more lenient in the United States than some other countries, such as Japan. Japanese rules require drivers to first obtain a learner’s permit, and then gradually through a series of exams move up in size and speed.
“I don’t think the law should allow a person with a learner’s permit to walk into a shop and buy a motorcycle that will go 200 (mph),” Adams said. “As it is, you get a learner’s permit and you can get the fastest, top-of-the-line, biggest motorcycle there is.”
And in Indiana, there is no law requiring helmets, either. Only 19 states require a helmet; Indiana only requires helmets for operators and riders less than 18 years of age. Most motorcyclists don’t support mandatory helmet laws — even motorcycle enthusiast and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Adams doesn’t support a law requiring helmets, either.
“It’s a choice,” he said. “There are some pros and cons — in slow speed crashes it certainly helps, but I’m not so sure that in a highway crash that’s going to help.”
And that is where safety courses, such as the weekend-long class held at S&S Powersports by ABATE of Indiana, come in. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday courses teach in the classroom, and on the motorcycle.
Students spend five hours of classroom time learning the rules and regulations of motorcycles, and spend 12 hours on a bike learning how to handle it. The course isn’t required by law, but ABATE does conduct the state license test.
Students perform 17 exercises on motorcycles and then complete a skills test. And it’s all geared toward safe riding, said Brian Rhodes, with ABATE.
“(Motorcycles) are dangerous,” he said. “We like to compare it to being invisible — no one is paying attention to you and no one can see you.
“Accident avoidance (training) is what I hear from people helps them the most.”
Rhodes said there has been a corresponding increase in class size as more motorcycles are being purchased, and the students represent a wide demographic.
“I have everyone from 16 to 65 years old,” Rhodes said. “The number of motorcycles is going to come up in the next few years with gas prices the way they are.”
And Adams said that could affect helmet laws and motorcycle safety.
“With more and more motorcycles on the road, that (law) may change in the future,” he said.

Motorcycle Driving Tips
• Wear a helmet, and goggles or glasses if it doesn’t have a face shield
• Wear appropriate clothing, such as a leather jacket and leather pants
• Wear brightly colored clothing to make yourself more visible to other drivers
• Wear durable nonslip gloves and boots or shoes that cover your ankles
• Make sure other drivers can see you — don’t ride in blind spots and always use your headlight
• Know your bike’s limits

So you know
• You can get more information on motorcycle safety courses through ABATE at S&S Powersports, at 700 Kopp Lane, Clarksville. You can also call 317-422-8474, or visit the Web site at www.abateonline.org

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