Safety Report

by Gary Klinker

I hope you are all surviving the scamdemic. It is a shame that riots were the only thing that could knock it out of first place in the fear mongering news cycle. I just heard this morning that the unemployment rate went down for last month. Always a good sign. Safe Rider classes are going very well this year. We have had a lot of good students and full classes.

I have heard on the radio about a couple of local motorcycle fatalities this week, so I went to the Wisconsin Community Maps site to see what kind of year we are having so far. As of today, June 5, there were 53 fatal motorcycle crashes with 60 fatalities. I clicked randomly around the state to get the particulars of some crashes. As always, there were a few deer hits, but the vast majority of crashes I checked on were alcohol involved crashes. How do people think they can operate something as complicated as a motorcycle after drinking? Part of riding is the fact that we can do something most of the population will never be able to do. It takes special skill and involves much more risk than driving a car. Why make it more dangerous and difficult than it already is? After over 40 years of ABATE trying to educate riders and compiling statistics of crashes, the fact remains that we are still being stupid and killing ourselves more than any other cause of crashes. Another number that stood out is the 53 fatal crashes total, but with 60 fatalities. Granted, without looking at each one, they may not all be alcohol crashes. Statistically about half would be. Why would anyone get on the back of a bike with someone who is drinking? I would have to assume that most of those are females. I figured most ladies would be a lot smarter than the operator of the bike. The ones I know are. Maybe it is time to form a Biker Women’s Temperance Movement to stop drinking motorcycle riders.

A couple of things I have said in the past are that I’m not against drinking. I like beer as much as anyone. I don’t do it while riding. The other thing is that I believe anyone in a leadership position in ABATE, from regional secretaries to the Executive Director should be willing to practice what we preach. If we claim to want to reduce motorcycle fatalities, we should be willing to provide a good example and not drink and ride. Right along with that is stopping anyone who has been drinking from getting on their bike. These opinions may not be very popular, but if we are not willing to do these things, we are just flapping our gums and making no difference at all. We should all analyze our behavior and mindset, then make adjustments, if needed. Just saying……….

Ride Safe-and sober,

Gary