"Most estimates put riding as being at least 15 times more lethal per passenger mile as driving."
That's the problem with aggregate statistics, they mislead when the components of the aggregate are widely disparate.
There are several types of riders who end up dead most often, and there often is overlap:
1.) males in their teens / early 20s, without rider training 2.) riders who drink before riding 3.) those who had a bike "back in the day" now buying a bike to recapture their youth - they survived by luck and quick reflexes then, but they don't have those reflexes now 4.) those who refuse to wear protective gear, especially helmets 5.) in general, anyone seeking "rebel" status - one might guess that they are risk-seekers and contemptuous of training and safety
The most common fatality is a young male riding off the road, at night, often after drinking.
There are several roadhouse bars in my area that we call "Harley corrals" because the bikes sit in front of the bars for hours before the riders head home. I doubt the riders are drinking club soda for all that time.
I've been riding for almost 30 years now. Yes, there are risks! I think about it every time I get on the bike. But as someone else said, you take risks every time you walk out the door. Life would be very dull if I never took any risks.
Clarkson is absolutely correct that riding is different than driving a car. It's a different skill set and some things seem counter-intuitive after driving a car. Also it is true that some people simply can't get the hang of it, and they should not ride.
That's the problem with aggregate statistics, they mislead when the components of the aggregate are widely disparate.
There are several types of riders who end up dead most often, and there often is overlap:
1.) males in their teens / early 20s, without rider training
2.) riders who drink before riding
3.) those who had a bike "back in the day" now buying a bike to recapture their youth - they survived by luck and quick reflexes then, but they don't have those reflexes now
4.) those who refuse to wear protective gear, especially helmets
5.) in general, anyone seeking "rebel" status - one might guess that they are risk-seekers and contemptuous of training and safety
The most common fatality is a young male riding off the road, at night, often after drinking.
There are several roadhouse bars in my area that we call "Harley corrals" because the bikes sit in front of the bars for hours before the riders head home. I doubt the riders are drinking club soda for all that time.
I've been riding for almost 30 years now. Yes, there are risks! I think about it every time I get on the bike. But as someone else said, you take risks every time you walk out the door. Life would be very dull if I never took any risks.
Clarkson is absolutely correct that riding is different than driving a car. It's a different skill set and some things seem counter-intuitive after driving a car. Also it is true that some people simply can't get the hang of it, and they should not ride.