Formula
for a Fatality
By
Jackie Vaughan
There
are many people who feel it is a badge of honor to log a thousand miles in 24 hours on a motorcycle. However,
close examination shows this to be a rather dubious claim to fame.
To
make the required mileage, the rider has to ride at excessive speeds for
sustained lengths of time. High-speed
highway riding is always high-risk riding, especially at night. Riding
at high speed cuts time and distance to react, even in daylight. At
night, by the time something breaks the headlight beam, there is no time to
avoid it. This is called overriding
the headlight. When the object is a
deer, a vehicle, or the side of a boxcar, the results are never in the rider’s
favor.
A
rider who pauses only long enough to refill the tank does not take time to
mentally refresh himself or to check his bike. His
only focus is to get back on the road. He
fails to notice a bubble in a tire or a drop in tire inflation. His
taillight might have burnt out, or the chain may be loose. A
sudden failure, especially at high speed, may result in a potentially fatal
fall.
Add
to that rider fatigue and you have a formula for a fatality. A
fatigued rider’s senses begin to dull, impeding judgement and slowing reaction
time. Droopy eyes don’t search the
road effectively. Depth perception diminishes. White
line fever develops and the rider’s attention strays. Coffee
and caffeine pills wear off suddenly, leaving the rider suddenly overcome with
the need for sleep.
These
factors combine to make a deadly and often fatal mix. Is
it worth the risk for a little pin? I think not.
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