<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <!--content provided by Various News Media, approved by Ken Howes, posted by Linda Knight - last updated 9/12/05--> <html> <head> <title>FHP - Bikes fuel annual death tally </title> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html"> <LINK href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/FHPstyles2.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet> <meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache"> <meta http-equiv="expires" content="0"> <!--BEGIN DATE CODE--> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript"> <!-- function AW_BustFrames() { if (self.parent.frames.length!=0) { self.parent.location.replace(document.location.href); } } //--> </script> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/JavaScript> <!-- function MM_preloadImages() { //v3.0 var d=document; if(d.images){ if(!d.MM_p) d.MM_p=new Array(); var i,j=d.MM_p.length,a=MM_preloadImages.arguments; for(i=0; i<a.length; i++) if (a[i].indexOf("#")!=0){ d.MM_p[j]=new Image; d.MM_p[j++].src=a[i];}} } //--> </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT Language="JavaScript"> <!-- hide from old browsers function GetDay(intDay){ var DayArray = new Array("Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday") return DayArray[intDay] } function GetMonth(intMonth){ var MonthArray = new Array("January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December") return MonthArray[intMonth] } function getDateStrWithDOW(){ var today = new Date() var year = today.getYear() if(year<1000) year+=1900 var todayStr = GetDay(today.getDay()) + ", " todayStr += GetMonth(today.getMonth()) + " " + today.getDate() todayStr += ", " + year return todayStr } //--> </SCRIPT> </HEAD> <BODY vLink=#6b79a5 aLink=#6b79a5 link=#6b79a5 leftMargin=0 topMargin=0 marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" onLoad="AW_BustFrames()"> <A name=top></A> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" height="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR valign="top"> <TD> <!-- Begin Header Table --> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <td valign="top" width="1%"><a href="http://www.myflorida.com/"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_myflorida_logo.gif" alt="Link to MyFlorida.com" width="135" height="82" border="0"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="1%"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_myflorida_tagline.gif" width="150" height="82"></td> <td valign="top" width="97%" background="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_hdr_background_filler.gif">&nbsp; <a href="#globallink"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Skip to Global Links" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a> <a href="#search"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Skip to Search" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a> <a href="#mainnav"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Skip to Main Navigation" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a> <a href="#content1"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Skip to Content" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a> </TD> <TD vAlign=top width="1%"> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD valign="top" align=right><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/"><img align="center" border="0" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_myflorida_hsmv.gif" alt="Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles"></a> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#ffffff><IMG height=2 alt="" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" width=1></TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#6b79a5><IMG height=2 alt="" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_spacer.gif" width=1></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align=right bgColor=#6b79a5> <!-- Begin Tabs Table --> <a name="globallink"></a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_tab_start.gif" width="27" height="18" alt=""></td> <td nowrap bgcolor="#eeeeee"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/" class="tabs" title="Link to HSMV Homepage">HSMV Home</a></td> <td><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_tab_start2.gif" width="21" height="18" alt=""></td> <td nowrap bgcolor="#eeeeee"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/" class="tabs" title="Link to Highway Patrol Homepage">Highway Patrol</a></td> <td><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_tab_start2.gif" width="21" height="18" alt=""></td> <td nowrap bgcolor="#eeeeee"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/dlnew.html" class="tabs" title="Link to Driver License Information">Driver Licenses</a></td> <td><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_tab_start2.gif" width="21" height="18" alt=""></td> <td nowrap bgcolor="#eeeeee"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html" class="tabs" title="Link to Motor Vehicle & Vessel Information">Motor Vehicles</a></td> <td><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_tab_start2.gif" width="21" height="18" alt=""></td> <td nowrap bgcolor="#eeeeee"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/Spanish/" class="tabs" title="Información disponible en español">Español&nbsp;</a></td> </tr> </table> <!-- End Tabs Table --> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <!-- End Header Table --> </TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#6b79a5><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/images/p3_spacer.gif" width=1></TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#c7d5f7><IMG height=3 alt="" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/images/p3_spacer.gif" width=1></TD></TR> <TR> <TD><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/images/p3_spacer.gif" width=1></TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#f7f7f7> <TABLE valign="top" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" height="100%" bgColor=#d6dbe4 border=0><TBODY> <TR> <TD noWrap> <!-- Begin Search Table --> <a name="search"></a> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><img src="images/p3_spacer.gif" width="8" border="0"></td> <td class="search_text"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/search.html"><img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/p3_search.gif" width="88" alt="Search HSMV" border="0"></a> </td></tr> </table> <!-- End Search Table --> <td align="right" class="date"> <SCRIPT Language="JavaScript"> <!-- hide from old browsers document.write(getDateStrWithDOW()) //--> </SCRIPT>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <td class="fhpHome" valign="top" width="100%" height="100%"> <!-- BEGIN FHP CONTENT TABLE--><br> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tr> <td align="center"> <!--BEGIN FHP HEADER TABLE--> <TABLE width="100%" align="center" border="0" cellspacing=5> <tr> <TD ALIGN="CENTER" width="25%" class="date" valign="top"> <img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/FHPpatch.jpg" alt="FHP Patch"></a></td> <TD ALIGN="center" width="50%" class="date"> <img src="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/images/FHPlogoS.gif" alt="FHP Logo"> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> <!--END FHP HEADER TABLE--> <a name="body"></a> <table width="90%" align="center"> <tr><td> <P align="left">Published on Sunday, August 21, 2005<BR> in the Daytona Beach News-Journal <BR><BR> <h3 align="center"> Bikes fuel annual death tally </h3><em>Motorcycle fatalities rise sharply </em> <p align="justify">DAYTONA BEACH -- The number of people killed in motorcycle wrecks in Volusia County jumped an alarming 125 percent last year. <p align="justify">Experts blame the leap from 16 motorcycle deaths in 2003 to 36 in 2004 on lax helmet use, new motorcyclists not taking the time to build their riding skills and a rise in the number of bikes on the road. <p align="justify">"With the revival of the Harley, you're seeing more doctors and lawyers on bikes," said Cpl. David Templeton, a DeLand-based Florida Highway Patrol trooper who's been investigating traffic homicides for 16 years. "It's a status symbol for a lot of these folks, and you have to wonder how proficient their skills are. . . . It's a matter of life and death getting proper training for a motorcycle.." <p align="justify">The bikers who continue to speed, drive recklessly and hop on their motorcycles drunk also feed the annual death tallies. <p align="justify">"A lot of these guys are low-flying rockets on wheels," said Sgt. Rick Ritter, an FHP homicide investigation supervisor in DeLand. <p align="justify">Known as a biker haven with Bike Week and Biketoberfest, Volusia County has become deadly territory for motorcyclists. <p align="justify">Of the 135 people who died in traffic crashes on Volusia County roads last year, 26 percent were on motorcycles. That's more than twice as many as the 10 percent of traffic homicides statewide involving motorcycles in 2004, and more than three times as many as the 8 percent nationwide. <p align="justify">When asked why Volusia County seems to have a disproportionate number of motorcycle fatalities, several experts could only take educated guesses. <p align="justify">Maj. Ernesto Duarte, chief of public affairs for the Florida Highway Patrol, found the statistics interesting. <p align="justify">"I'm surprised by the number of people killed and the number not wearing helmets," Duarte said. "Statewide, I've seen a lower death rate with those not wearing helmets." <p align="justify">Of the 36 people who died in Volusia County motorcycle crashes in 2004, only nine were wearing helmets. <p align="justify">In the three years after Florida's repeal of its mandatory helmet law in 2000, motorcycle deaths in Volusia and Flagler counties increased 12 percent. <p align="justify">The number of motorcycle deaths in Volusia County "doesn't sound unreasonable" when biker events are factored in, Templeton said. <p align="justify">"You're talking about hundreds of thousands of motorcycles on the roads," said Templeton, who teaches motorcycle crash courses. "You also have a lot of transient traffic coming through Volusia County year-round, and some are on motorcycles." <p align="justify">Reports indicate 32 of those who died lived in Volusia County, and four were visitors from other states. Just six lost their lives during Bike Week, and none during Biketoberfest. But the number of motorcycle deaths tied to special events would be higher if those who died days, weeks or months after the events were added, Ritter said. <p align="justify">The new breed of motorcyclists is adding to the number of fatalities. <p align="justify">"It's attracting riders of all ages to buy these huge bikes, and they're not trained to handle the size and power of these motorcycles," Duarte said. "Even if you're doing everything right, (except) you're not paying attention, you can get hit." <p align="justify">A review of Volusia's 2004 fatal motorcycle crashes indicates 24 died as a result of the motorcycle driver doing something to cause the accident, while 12 were caught in the path of another vehicle that prompted the wreck. At least 15 of the motorcycle drivers were speeding, according to records. <p align="justify">A lot of new riders aren't properly licensed, and very few take advantage of safety courses, Templeton said. <p align="justify">"When you're riding a motorcycle, it's not just about you," he said. "Most people in cars don't see you, or they just turn right in front of you. You're more exposed." </td></tr></table> <P><hr width="90%" align="center"></p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/Related/Aug2005.htm"> FHP In The News August 2005</a> </p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/Related/"> FHP Related News Articles</a> </p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/"> FHP In The News</a> </p> <!--END PAGE--> <center> </td> </tr> </table> <!--END FHP CONTENT TABLE--> <!-- END FHP CONTENT --> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#333366"><img src="p3_spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#6b79a5"> <!--BEGIN FHP FOOTER TABLE--> <table class="dark" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="left"> <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/fhpstations.htm"> FHP Station Address & Phone Numbers</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; </td> <td align="right"> <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/Mission.htm"> Mission</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/SiteMap.htm"> Site Map</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; </td></tr></table> <hr width="100%" class="HR1"> <!--END FHP FOOTER TABLE--> <!-- Begin Footer Table --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="156">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center" class="footer"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/overview.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to About Us">About Us</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/privacy_policy.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to Privacy Statement">Privacy Statement</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/Disclaimer.htm" class="footerlink" title="Link to Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/" class="footerlink" title="Link to Office Locations">Office Locations</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/contact.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to Contact Us">Contact Us</a><br> Copyright &copy;2005 State of Florida <br> </td> <td width="156"></td> </tr> </table> <a href="#top"><img src="images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Return to Top" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a><!-- End Footer Table --></td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>