Motorcycles - What a Senseless Way to Die

I just found out that another young man – a 20 year old Iraqi-American college student – was killed in a motorcycle accident a few days ago.

His story seems typical and reads like a news headline - "Twenty-Something Male Dies Performing Motorcycle Stunts". In this case, he did a "pop-a-wheelie", fell off and broke his neck. He died on the way to the hospital.

As a 24-year old guy, I cannot understand why other young guys would even waste their money – and sometimes life – to buy a death trap. Not a single year goes by that some young guy (never a girl it seems) in my area gives up their life “to be cool”.

First of all, where I live motorcycles are not even practical. It rains or snows most of the year or is just plain unseasonable. Second, motorcycles are expensive to buy, maintain, and insure. Plus, how many people who drive a motorcycle bought one used?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2001 there were 3,181 motorcycle deaths – a number that trends upwards year after year. And guess who the greatest offenders are? Yup – males ages 20-29. Click on the graph to visit the NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Program.

This might seem cold, but at least a guy who dies from a motorcycle accident can’t hurt anybody else with his stupidity.