Daytona Bike Week Festive, But Marred by 5 Fatalities
It's an annual tradition that attracts roughly a half a million motorcyclists, but it can also be a deadly one. Daytona Bike Week, which officially kicked off on February 29, has already claimed 5 lives, and the event has the dubious distinction of keeping local trauma centers "packed to the gills, plus." For the record, 2006's festivities involved 20 fatalities, the highest in the history of the event.
If you're not distracted by local police, which are employing new tag-reading cameras which can process up to 15,000 license plates per hour, you might actually enjoy yourself; competitive events range from historic AHRMA races to the SunTrust MotoST races and, of course, the Daytona 200 (where Miguel Duhamel is eager to seal seeking a record sixth win.)
Harley-Davidson has brought along two traveling museums and held their first, hundreds strong all-female ride, and though they've been criticizing for moving their activities away from the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, they deserve credit for maintaining a wide scope of operations at Daytona.
For more famous motorcycle events, check out our list of 10 Great American Motorcycle Events.
Photo © Spencer Platt / Staff / Getty Images NewsClick to enlarge
Comments
Always a shame when someone loses a life….2 killed while merging, 1 killed while speeding, 1 walked in front of a bike. Kind of makes you wonder if someone may have broken the law and alcohol had a hand in those.
It is not different in Brazil, we should enjoy our rides, we don’t need to show to everybody we are fast.
The other day I was on my ride by a nice beach town, then approached some riders with nice harleys and others customiseds, I asked if I could follow them, ok. join us..soon after I saw the highway limit was 80 km/hour, they were over 100 km/h, I said f….
Unhappily this is what happens…
Enjoy yr ride and do yr safety…and be carefull w/ others..
Ride Safely,
Decio
Santos/Sao Paulo/
Brazil
Sadly, alcohol was likely involved. I enjoy a drink as much as anyone else who drinks, but it’s really best to be safe at home when imbibing.
I seem to remember (correct me I’m wrong) that alcohol is involved in more than 50% of motorcycle fatalities
“If you’re not distracted by local police, you might actually enjoy yourself” God knows that distraction has nothing to do with keeping that five from becoming 500. Don’t breath so deeply while fueling…
Scottie,
Alcohol, sadly, contributes to a huge percentage of motorcycle fatalities.
According to Mary Peters‘ October, 2007 report, “Forty-one percent of the 1,878 motorcycle operators who died in single vehicle crashes in 2005 had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher. Sixty-one percent of those killed in single-
vehicle crashes on weekend nights had BAC .08 g/dL or higher…”
Basem
It a wonder there isn’t already much higher fatality number. All the bikes in the picture are in motion and not one single person has their feet on the pegs. The lead guy with no shirt even seems to be doing the hilter march…
Basem,
Your article pulls me in so many different directions. A half million bikers on a small (by comparison) piece of real estate is in and of itself a reason to be concerned about a high probability that accidents will occur. But the severity of such accidents need not be fatal. In the words of one of the medical people..” helmets would help a lot” Why do so many choose to put themselves at high risk of serious injury or worse. It is idiotic! I love riding my bike yet I realize that even though I do all I can to ride safely there are several vehicles on the road that are out to “kill me”. In the eyes of many….” I don’t have a right to exist”. Sadly, the high toll of those who will die and or be seriously injured during this event will be “self inflicted” either because of their stupidity or a brash display of “in your face” arrogance. Every fatality or injury that occurs during this event will cost everyone of us who love riding in terms of high insurance rates, health and medical and sooner or later, certain freedoms that we associate with riding. I wonder what the hidden cost is of those who need medical treatment for different reasons but have to wait because some selfish individuals choose to express their “right to ride dangerously” and in so doing are taking up all the available resources. Doesn’t that make all of us look like fools? Let’s live to ride another day!
Pat
West Virginia
It a wonder there isn’t already much higher fatality number. All the bikes in the picture are in motion and not one single person has their feet on the pegs. The lead guy with no shirt even seems to be doing the hilter march…
Comment by Sal — March 5, 2008 @ 7:09 pm
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Actually, it appears as though the bikes are moving very slowly, if at all….have you ever tried putting your feet on the pegs with the bike not moving?
The injury and loss of life is obviously the major point of contention here - but consider as well the constant barrage of bad press that motorcycles - especially sport bikes - receive. It’s a shame the real cause is never truly investigated or worse yet never publicized when the ‘no mind’ doom spreaders get in front of a camera or reporter. The problem has never been, nor will it ever be the bike.
Lack of training / experience, licensing systems that care not one iota for that lack or experience, and not enough brains to ride sober will always be the problem.
“gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet” ?????
I’ll bite…you lost me.
Basem…I assume you deleted that whacko comment about the omelette?
I wasn’t imagining that, was I?
Pete,
Unfortunately, you weren’t imagining that.
Somebody thinks they have a great sense of humor, and that person is posting delete-worthy comments all over.
Basem