Belonging to a motorcycle club
has always seemed pretty cool to you,
but the reality of riding a motorcycle
is not what you expected.
As your bike screeches
towards a deadly crash,
your dream may turn into a nightmare.
In 2018, 5,172 motorcyclists
were killed in the United States.
They were 14% of the total
motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S.
And keep in mind,
71% of bikers wore proper helmets in 2018.
So, what more do you need to do
to survive a motorcycle crash?
For many years,
riding a motorcycle has been
glorified on television and in the movies.
The rumble of a motorcycle motor
makes you think of long, open roads
and endless highways to explore.
But unfortunately,
these roads can be deadly
for motorcyclists.
According to autoinsurance.org,
in the United States, in 2016,
the number of people
who died from riding motorcycles
was 28 times higher than those
who died in cars.
And over 80% of motorcycle crashes
cause injury or death.
Those aren't good odds.
So, how can you prevent yourself
from becoming part
of the deadly statistics?
Of those motorcyclists killed in accidents,
40% of them didn't
wear helmets to protect themselves.
Your head is a very sensitive
part of your body,
and damaging it can kill you,
or leave you paralyzed.
So, it’s essential to wear a helmet,
no matter how much you prefer
to feel the wind in your hair as you drive.
Before you head out on your mean machine,
it may be a good idea
to watch some videos
of motorcyclists driving,
and even crashing.
Seeing other people
make small or common mistakes
can help you learn, or notice something,
without making the mistakes yourself.
And that knowledge
could help save your life.
As you begin to crash,
try to slow down as much as you can
by slowly hitting the front brakes.
Look around you, and find a safer
place to crash into.
Instead of slamming into another vehicle,
look for a softer or clearer area,
and aim your bike towards it.
This can help you survive,
and lessen your injuries.
Once you’re down,
let go of the motorcycle.
Many motorcycles weigh
hundreds of pounds,
and you wouldn't want that weight
tumbling on top and crushing you.
You don't want a heavy motorbike
to pin you to the ground either.
Instead, try to roll away.
In 2019, a New Hampshire crash
killed seven bikers,
when the group crashed into
a Dodge pickup truck.
But as her bike fell onto the ground,
Dawn Brindley
rolled away from the motorcycle,
and survived.
And once you’ve rolled off the bike,
allow yourself to slide, legs first,
like you're stealing a base in baseball.
This can help slow you down faster.
To avoid becoming roadkill,
crawl away from traffic.
A motorcycle crash can leave you with
plenty of injuries.
You don't want to get hit by a car, too.
Don’t try to get up and walk,
as it may cause more injuries.
So crawl away.
And once you make it
to the side of the road,
call for help.
Hopefully, the weather will cooperate,
and you won’t be
lying there
in a thunder and lightning storm.
But if that's your next challenge,
we’ve got you covered,
right here on How to Survive.