A claims survey by a major Australian bike insurer, C2006, found
that in 40% if claims the motorcycle or scooter was hit from
behind by another vehicle. Looks like it could be a similar
situation worldwide.
Five counties hit with seven fatal motorcycle crashes in 2011
SUN, 01 APR 2012 18:59:22 CDT
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PEORIA
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There were 162 crashes involving motorcycles last year in the Illinois State Police district that serves Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties.
Of those, 129 resulted in injuries to motorcycle operators and passengers.
Seven of those motorcyclists didn’t live to tell about it.
The nature of some of those fatal crashes has people still talking.
High on such a list is the accident Aug. 7 at North Sheridan Road and West Glen Avenue in which Korey Korenchuk and his wife, Rachel, were killed. The parents of two young daughters were stopped at a red light just before 2 a.m. when their motorcycle was rear-ended by a drunken driver.
“We were there about a week ago,” said Korey Korenchuk’s father, Mike, who, with his wife, Hilary, revisited the accident scene.
For many months after the crash, traffic signal poles at the intersection continued to be decorated with silk flowers and the like. Recently, permanent signs were erected at the intersection in their honor.
“I believe there is some solace in that,” Mike Korenchuk said.
State Police District 8 safety education officer Dustin Pierce said the district’s total of 25 crash fatalities in 2011 was the lowest among the 22 districts in the state. But the seven motorcycle-related deaths ...
“That is a high number,” Pierce said. “We definitely want to get that down.”
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, but the unseasonably warm weather in March sped up the first opportunity to ride by several weeks.
Those “Start Seeing Motorcycle” signs produced by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety will be making their comeback sooner rather than later.
“I think it absolutely did help,” said Wayne Wiebler, owner of Walters Bros. Harley-Davidson, where he began working in 1951.
“The law enforcement agencies have (“Start Seeing Motorcycles” static window clings) on just about every car they’ve got,” Wiebler said. “None of that hurts. It just doesn’t hurt at all.”
Another of the fatal crashes in 2011 that left a lasting impression occurred on the afternoon of July 21 at North Third and Margaret streets in Pekin. Willie Wiker died after an 81-year-old woman drove her car through a red light and T-boned Wiker’s motorcycle.
“That’s the kind of stuff that happens — nobody did that on purpose,” Wiebler said. “You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Operating a motorcycle while impaired, however, doesn’t sit well with Wiebler. Though he doesn’t necessarily like the term, Wiebler concedes such a measure could transform a motorcycle into “I guess you could say, a murdercycle.”
“It doesn’t make much difference whether it’s a cellphone or too much alcohol or too many drugs of any kind,” Wiebler said. “You’re just not in the condition that you should be in to ride a motorcycle safely.”
Pierce recommends riders take the free safety training course offered by IDOT. The trooper teaches courses at Illinois Central College in East Peoria.
“Maybe that should be a requirement,” said Mike Korenchuk, who said he didn’t know if his son, 40, ever participated.
Much to Pierce’s chagrin, wearing a helmet isn’t the law in Illinois. But should someone choose to do so, Pierce said the helmet should be DOT-approved rather than the garden variety.
“It’s not really doing them any good (otherwise),” Pierce said.
He also urges motorcyclists to plan ahead in the event other motorists don’t see their oncoming motorcycles.
“The thing I always tell my students and when I’m talking to people is, always play ‘what if',” Pierce said. “You know, what if this car does this? What if this vehicle turns in front of me?
“Where’s my outlet, what can I do? So if an emergency does happen, they have a little bit of a plan and hopefully an extra second to steer around (the danger).”
Of those, 129 resulted in injuries to motorcycle operators and passengers.
Seven of those motorcyclists didn’t live to tell about it.
The nature of some of those fatal crashes has people still talking.
High on such a list is the accident Aug. 7 at North Sheridan Road and West Glen Avenue in which Korey Korenchuk and his wife, Rachel, were killed. The parents of two young daughters were stopped at a red light just before 2 a.m. when their motorcycle was rear-ended by a drunken driver.
“We were there about a week ago,” said Korey Korenchuk’s father, Mike, who, with his wife, Hilary, revisited the accident scene.
For many months after the crash, traffic signal poles at the intersection continued to be decorated with silk flowers and the like. Recently, permanent signs were erected at the intersection in their honor.
“I believe there is some solace in that,” Mike Korenchuk said.
State Police District 8 safety education officer Dustin Pierce said the district’s total of 25 crash fatalities in 2011 was the lowest among the 22 districts in the state. But the seven motorcycle-related deaths ...
“That is a high number,” Pierce said. “We definitely want to get that down.”
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, but the unseasonably warm weather in March sped up the first opportunity to ride by several weeks.
Those “Start Seeing Motorcycle” signs produced by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety will be making their comeback sooner rather than later.
“I think it absolutely did help,” said Wayne Wiebler, owner of Walters Bros. Harley-Davidson, where he began working in 1951.
“The law enforcement agencies have (“Start Seeing Motorcycles” static window clings) on just about every car they’ve got,” Wiebler said. “None of that hurts. It just doesn’t hurt at all.”
Another of the fatal crashes in 2011 that left a lasting impression occurred on the afternoon of July 21 at North Third and Margaret streets in Pekin. Willie Wiker died after an 81-year-old woman drove her car through a red light and T-boned Wiker’s motorcycle.
“That’s the kind of stuff that happens — nobody did that on purpose,” Wiebler said. “You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Operating a motorcycle while impaired, however, doesn’t sit well with Wiebler. Though he doesn’t necessarily like the term, Wiebler concedes such a measure could transform a motorcycle into “I guess you could say, a murdercycle.”
“It doesn’t make much difference whether it’s a cellphone or too much alcohol or too many drugs of any kind,” Wiebler said. “You’re just not in the condition that you should be in to ride a motorcycle safely.”
Pierce recommends riders take the free safety training course offered by IDOT. The trooper teaches courses at Illinois Central College in East Peoria.
“Maybe that should be a requirement,” said Mike Korenchuk, who said he didn’t know if his son, 40, ever participated.
Much to Pierce’s chagrin, wearing a helmet isn’t the law in Illinois. But should someone choose to do so, Pierce said the helmet should be DOT-approved rather than the garden variety.
“It’s not really doing them any good (otherwise),” Pierce said.
He also urges motorcyclists to plan ahead in the event other motorists don’t see their oncoming motorcycles.
“The thing I always tell my students and when I’m talking to people is, always play ‘what if',” Pierce said. “You know, what if this car does this? What if this vehicle turns in front of me?
“Where’s my outlet, what can I do? So if an emergency does happen, they have a little bit of a plan and hopefully an extra second to steer around (the danger).”
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