October 2007

We are victims, not guilty!

Interesting reflection Carlos Rojo, KTM Director General of Spain.

During the last four years I've been dragging the consequences of a motorcycle accident in one of my legs. Much of this time I thought that I would even injured for life and could not walk properly.
If I tell you this is because I say the magic phrase: "The bike is dangerous." As perhaps you or one of your friends, I have experienced it firsthand. So no one in any administration can now come to discover that the bike is at risk. My leg and I already know. Of course that is at risk: a motorcycle, the body is you.
However, we are witnessing a process of demonization of the bike by the authorities that is more than outrageous. Motorists have traditionally been the perfect target to shoot. What's a fire in Guadalajara for a false green is going hand in hand with the fire in a barbecue? For circular forbid the mountain and all fixed. What triggers the number of fatal accidents despite the card for points? For the fault of the bike.
always our fault. Not really our fault, but the blame because we are an easy target: we have always been disorganized and we had an individual touch that might have to do with the fact that we are alone and isolated bike with the helmet.
Anyway, do not stop shooting at us, to take responsibility for everything. It is infamous hear these days as the bike is responsible for the fatal traffic accidents are firing. So, as the fault is ours, will lead us.
In recent days, the attack on the bike is getting stronger and the media broadcast the messages from the authorities without question. That has always happened, the authorities say that speed is dangerous because the speed is to blame for all the world, without analyzing when and where it is dangerous or how dangerous it is also a tractor to meet 20 per hour in a hump or a blind curve and a slider asphalt waiting guardrail.
The last straw was a story I heard recently: a Civil Guard rider suffered a fatal crash collided with a guardrail. The conclusion of the story seemed to be "see if the bike is dangerous to the Civil Guard suffers in the flesh." I was angry, because that fellow motorist was the victim of the bike, but a guard rail which is a blade in a quick fall, but even worse, a saw, a slow decline, experts say.
However, the Administration not their fault that our secondary road network is full of black spots, not their fault that, instead of fixing the potholes they do is put a sign to tell us not to blame for continued and miles conventional road guardrail, without double bionda with ax-shaped beams.
not to blame for all liars who broadcast some data, because there is nothing worse than a half-truth. It is true that there are more motorcycle accidents than ever. But there are many more bikes than ever! The bike park has increased in Spain in recent years. They are selling more than 300,000 bikes a year between mopeds sccoters and motorcycles! How could it not be any more accidents? Have you calculated the number of accidents per driver? Maybe less than before. By that logic, can also conclude that handles better in Korea than in Spain because there are fewer accidents! Have you calculated if people have an accident because of the bike or the fault of the road? Have you bothered to consider whether the accident was the fault of the motorcyclist or was in a car?
No, because the only interesting message from the Administration is that another is at fault. And the bike is the perfect target. I remember a recent study
Hotline, which has 170,000 motorcycles insured and well over a million cars. The conclusion is that the car was at fault in motorcycle accidents by 70%.
Did he read any authority a report like this? Because maybe it should be understood that if the bike is at risk, you have to do is what is done with the weak, protect it, to legislate in their favor, the playing field. With motorcycle
no, never legislates in their favor. In the news yesterday was showing some pictures taken on a helicopter in which they showed Bikes forward in a straight continuous line, between breaths, phrases and sentences that were shooting pictures. God defend me from being carried out with continuous line, but comments of these images prove once again the ignorance of view of those who do not ride a motorcycle and think about it. Did any of them stopped to see what the motorcycle accident rate when overtaking? Is zero, but of course, do not know. Such a maneuver to advance with continuous line, which is deadly dangerous driving, it's just a traffic violation on a motorcycle.
We blame everything but know nothing. They know that thousands and thousands of motorists-road made for cars, designed for cars, suitable for cars and marked for the cars. They know that the risk of the bike is in these scythes that put us on the side, in those potholes and gravel that neglected in a corner there, in that painting soapy some curves in the oil that is in the round discharged by a truck consented ...
They know nothing, but want to drive for us. Me
not count. My leg and I kept riding my bike, enjoying the bike, responsibly, and we will not let anyone blame us that we are above my leg and I who suffered the damage.
is the height that we are the victims over us tainted.

Source: KTM Spain