What if …

Combat Edge, July-August, 2007 by Lisa D. Tetrick

We have all heard about it, seen it, or known it ourselves: the "what if" variable. In some way or another, it touches each of our lives every day. Tragically, I have become more familiar than I ever wanted to be with this "what if" factor in the last few years.

I had been stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, for about 3 months when the phone rang on March 20, 2002, "A1C Tetrick you need to go home and call your family. There's been an accident." My heart dropped into my stomach, "No. Not again--this can't be happening again." You see, about a month before I had received another phone call just like it. My sister had been killed in a car accident. It had not been that long since I had returned to work from emergency leave.

One of the NCOs I worked with asked if I needed her to go home with me. I numbly said yes. When I arrived at my room, I decided to listen to my messages before calling home. The first message was from my other sister sobbing, "Lisa, Dad's been in an accident and he's hurt real bad. Call me when you get this." Beep. "Lisa, Dad's dead. Come home now."

This time it was a motorcycle accident instead of a car. My dad came around a corner that was less than 30 seconds away from our home. (Isn't that the way it happens so many times?) With all his protective gear in place, he did what you're supposed to do. He put the bike down as the truck ran right over him. It drug him the length of a football field, ripped off his helmet, and entirely graded off one side of his body -- especially his face. I could paint you a more detailed picture, but after 5 years I can hardly stomach it.

For obvious reasons, I did a humanitarian permanent change of station to Beale AFB, Calif., 2 months later. Just before my arrival, my new squadron lost a military member to another motorcycle accident. Is nowhere safe from the "what ifs ..."?

My dad had ridden motorcycles since he was 14 years old. Needless to say, the experience was there. Because he did everything right as he came around that corner, my "what ifs ..." are more about the circumstances (the truck, the timing, etc.). But my life has been so completely altered by his death that I started to do some research and realized there are a whole set of "what ifs ..." related to motorcycle safety. The biggest one I want to challenge each of you out there with is: "What if" we could reduce motorcycle-related deaths by 50 percent. It's totally possible when you break down the statistics and see why so many happen.

Motorcycle accidents are like cancer. Everyone knows somebody or knows somebody who knows somebody. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2004, motorcyclists were about 34 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash. Overall in 2005, 4,553 motorcyclists were killed and an additional 87,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the U.S.

While my dad was wearing a helmet, I was shocked to find out that in 2005, only 20 states in the U.S. required helmet use by all motorcycle operators and passengers. In another 27 states, only persons under a specific age (usually 18) are required to wear helmets. Finally, three states had no laws requiring helmet use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,546 motorcyclists in 2005. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 728 lives could have been saved. "What if ..."

Another major fatality factor for motorcyclists in 2005 was other objects. Approximately 50 percent (2,347) of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with another motor vehicle in transport, like my dad. However, motorcycles are more likely to be involved in a fatal collision with a fixed object than are other vehicles. Twenty-six percent of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with fixed objects, compared to 17 percent for passenger cars, 12 percent for light trucks, and 3 percent for large trucks. "What if ..."

Also in 2005, 34 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding. "What if ..."

Last, but not least, in 2005 was the alcohol factor. Twenty-seven percent of all fatally injured motorcycle operators had Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels of 0.08 or higher. An additional 7 percent had lower alcohol levels (BAC of 0.01 to 0.07). Motorcycle operators killed in traffic crashes at night (43 percent) were three times more likely to have BAC levels 0.08 or higher than those killed during the day (13 percent). "What if ..."

These are just a few of the statistics related to motorcycle fatalities. I haven't included unlicensed motorcyclists, over maneuvering, etc. Again, "what if ..."

"What if" these statistics alone were enough to stop these tragic deaths. Unfortunately, they have not done that so far. So what are some additional safety steps that motorcyclists can take? Studies show that the head, arms, and legs are most often injured in a crash. Protective clothing and equipment serve a three-fold purpose for motorcyclists: comfort and protection from the elements; some measure of injury protection; and, through use of color or reflective material, a means for other motorists to see the motorcyclist.