It’s becoming quite common to see motorcycle-related accidents in the news lately. Most involve people without crash helmets. And the outcome is almost always fatal.
I really don’t understand why these riders cannot seem to get the message through their heads. It was even ludicrous to listen to a motorcycle rider being interviewed as he was passing by a fatal accident involving another motorcycle. He admits that the fatality could have been him, since he too was not wearing a helmet! What’s even more stupid is that the law enforcers present at the scene did not even issue him a warning! And that’s probably why accidents are commonplace. There is no enforcement of laws regarding motorcycle safety.
I would even be surprised if there were any law at all covering motorcycles in general! It seems they are impervious to traffic laws and common sense. They do not follow traffic lights, go anywhere they please, use the sidewalks as roads, enter one-way streets, counterflow, cross barriers and even use the pedestrian lanes to avoid the lights! And enforcers just let them be. Not a day goes by on the road wherein I do not have a less than pleasing encounter with a motorcycle.
Another issue I have with these two-wheeled vehicles is noise. Many have attached aftermarket mufflers and pipes unto their bikes, causing quite a racket when they are driven fast! And most “cruise” in the dead of night. Even public tricycles are fitted with these devices, like they need them in the first place!
Again, where is the enforcement of the nuisance law? No wonder it is the favorite vehicle of criminals! And the best local governments can do is ban tandem riding? Please.
Motorcycles have exponentially increased in number over the years, owing to the fact that many sellers offer very low terms to owning one. Not to mention the fact that it does give great fuel consumption rates.
But many just purchase these without proper training on handling and safety, and the dealers couldn’t care less. It’s all about sales and profit. It is about time to enforce stricter laws covering motorcycles.
If the trend of recklessness and wanton non-compliance of traffic laws continue, we are bound to see more of the same fatal accidents on the news.