This really makes sense since the average rider age has been going up each year and older people obviously are more easily injured and take longer to recover than younger people. Add in other preexisting medical problems (heart, blood pressure, etc) and you have the perfect storm. One thing everyone can do to minimize risk is to take it easy getting back on the road this spring. Take short rides on lightly traveled roads for your first few times out to retrain yourself and get used to the extra hyper-awareness that you need to be safe on the road. From MSNBC–
A University of Rochester Medical Center study of 61,689 motorcyclists aged 17 to 89 found that aging road warriors were nearly twice as likely to die as a result of a motorcycle accident compared to younger riders.
Researchers found that between 1996 and 2005 the average age of motorcyclists involved in crashes increased to about 39 from 34 and the proportion of injured riders aged 40-plus rose to about 50 percent from 28 percent.
…Older riders were found to be more likely to die from less severe injuries than younger riders, to spend at least 24 hours in the intensive care unit, and to have more pre-existing health issues that led to longer hospital stays.
“Treating a 60-year-old who has been in a motorcycle accident is very different from treating a 21-year-old who has been in a similar accident — 60-year-olds bring a lot more medical baggage with them, and this can adversely impact outcomes following injury,” said Gestring.
“As people start to dust off their motorcycles this spring, older riders should take an extra measure of caution; if an accident happens they’ll often pay a higher price than younger riders.”
0 Comments