Currently bicycle is considered one of the most widely used means of transportation in the world. Also, it has benefits as improve the quality of live as well as a means of non-polluting transport. According to Acharya, the annual release poll commissioned by Share the Road Cycling Coalition shows that over 600,000 Ontarians are cycling daily, including 182,000 in Toronto (2013). In spite of the fact that cycling is a pleasurable activity, it can also become annoyance in term of safety. An article publish by Fox said that “The study, commissioned by the city, shows that Toronto had the highest number of accidents involving cyclists in 2010 with 1,145 incidents. That 's about 42 accidents for every 100,000 people” (2011). This essay will present several solutions for cycling issues in Toronto. Social reports indicate that cars were the main reason for cyclists’ injury. According to Fox, the research also show that the cause of accidents and found side-swiping was the most common cause of accidents (164 incidents) involving cyclists (2011). In addition, most of those issues occur around rush hours on Monday to Friday (Fox, 2011). Officially a cyclist has the right away 47% of time and many researches demonstrate …show more content…
Cyclists and drivers share the same space on the streets and every day it is possible to listen to accident reports related to bikes and cars on the streets. However, it not so important unless it involves the death of a cyclist. Spurr, reporter of the star new paper, wrote that on July 4 the police have, in a span of less than 24 hours, 18 reported collisions involving pedestrian and cyclist and a resulted in a death (2016). According to O’Connor, a Share the Road Cycling coalition survey exhibit that 73% loves to bike to work, but they choose not do (2016). It means that people are concerned about safety on the
Dangers on roadways is an issue that describes the discrepancy between perception and reality of road rage. The media, for some odd reason, tends to make road rage a huge controversial issue. As seen on talk shows from Oprah Winfrey to CNN, they reveal to people that road rage could happen at any time and to always be looking over your shoulder. These talk shows and news programs also put fear into our minds by explaining that most roadragers often use guns to kill or injure their victims. Glassner contradicts the media's speculations by stating that out of approximately 250,000 people killed on roadways between 1990-1997, AAA attributed that one in one thousand was an act of road rage (pg.5).
He shows that he is contemplative by letting us know that thought long and hard about this topic and that he has done his research prior to writing this article. The assertive tone is brought into this paper when we realize that Clark shows the readers his confidence on his stance throughout the article. He makes certain that the readers know his authority and that he will not back down on his belief that the L. A’s bike-share system is
2. Motorcycle fatality rates due to riding without a helmet are quickly rising. Nationally, motorcycle fatalities have increased 59 percent since 1997 (Motorcycle 1). Between September and December of 2003 in Pennsylvania, helmetless rider fatalities more than doubled, but fatalities decreased in riders wearing helmets (Wlazelek 1). Similarly, research done by the American Journal of Public Health found that motorcycle helmets severely reduce the presence and severity of head injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents (Rowland 4). Obviously, there is strong correlation between helmet use and the number of fatal crashes. The research done across Pennsylvania in the years following the repeal of the all-rider helmet law suggests that helmets do in fact decrease the risk of serious head injuries and death among motorcyclists. According to Judith Stone, increased deaths were enough for Louisiana to reject helmetless riding and revert back to an all-rider helmet law. Louisiana saw a 100 per...
Millions of people all over the United States choose motorcycles over automobiles for the thrill, speed, and high performance capabilities. On the other hand, motorcycles are not at all the safest way of transportation. Motorcycles do not provide the passenger with the outer protection that cars provide, therefore, when one crashes, the results are usually much more serious. Injuries to the head are responsible for 76% of fatalities when dealing with motorcycle crashes many of which could have been prevented had the rider been wearing a helmet. For this reason, many states have adopted the motorcycle helmet law. The law states that every passengers must wear a helmet at all times when riding on a motorcycle. This law has created a great deal of controversy. One side supports the law, believing that it protects motorcyclists from danger and saves the economy a great deal of money. The other side argues that the law is unconstitutional and it violates our right to freedom. However, statistics show overwhelming support in favor of the motorcycle helmet law. Although wearing helmets cannot prevent motorcycle crashes, they can greatly reduce the number of deaths caused by head injury as well as lowering taxes, insurance rates, and health care costs. Therefore, the helmet law should be put into effect in every state across the United States.
According to the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, "automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for those aged 3 to 33, with 43,005 (118 per day) Americans killed in 2002 alone" (Clayton, Helms, Simpson, 2006). Worldwide, vehicle accidents consist of 1.2 millions deaths per year, "behind only childhood infections and AIDS as cause of death amount people aged 5 to 30 years old" (Clayton., 2006). The annual cost of road accidents is estimated about $518 billion"(Factor, Yair, Mahalel, 2013). The fact alone of being in a moving, heavy vehicle is a danger in itself but individuals that do not wear their seat belts, talk on the phone, text, and do other distracting behavior also put themselves in even more harmful situations.
This means maintaining an environment which recognises the benefits a healthy lifestyle offers not only to the individual but the broader community. There is a strong link between an individuals health and their environment, meaning an individuals health is somewhat reliant on their environment. Supportive environments are significant in improving road safety as a transport network which protects its users will empower its drivers to drive safely, respect others and the roads. With the sheer amounts of youth road fatalities, campaign “Speeding, no one thinks big of you” (2007) was created to target young male drivers on provisional licenses, who commonly speed to impress passengers. It was successful in reducing the masculinity associated with speeding among the provisional drivers, and the number of youth speeding fatalities was halved. The construction of cycle ways which separate cyclists from traffic proved successful in reducing accidents on the roads and encouraged new cyclists, which has seen improvement in congestion at peak
Assistant City Manager Mike Wanchick said, "A helmet seems to give a false sense of security to the cyclist, who feel less vulnerable and may ride less cautiously," He then went on to add. "As a result, riders wearing a helmet are more likely to have an accident." (Post) Now, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) statistics show four states accounted for 40 percent of bicycle deaths in 2000, With Texas as one of them. Yet, Wanchick says that "our basic position is that bicycle safety is a parents' primary obligation," adding " What hurts kids are cars and we need to be working the traffic citations out there* people who are licensed to drive cars, not kids learning to ride bicycles." (Post) Even though 10 of the largest cities in Texas have bicycle-helmet ordinances including Dallas and Fort Worth. But, Richardson Texas choose to not act on this issue, but turn a blind eye to one of the silent injuries and the prevention of it by wearing a simple helmet. The BHSI says the statistics show about 800 bicyclists die in the US every year. Plus another one in eight of the cyclists injured has a brain injury.
Today’s society appears to be constantly on the go. People seem to be pulled in multiple directions at once. Individuals never appear to have enough time to complete tasks that continually accumulate. It can be difficult to criticize someone that tries to make the most out every minute. Unfortunately, some of today’s drivers show a lack of judgment and trying to perform other tasks, while behind the wheel. People may feel this is best use time while getting to a destination. Occasionally, the small amount of time that people are trying to gain results in a time consuming accident. With modern conveniences that are geared toward an on the go public, individuals appear to be too preoccupied to driving safely.
This paper is being written to identify and provide demographic information on a population that has been through trauma and resiliency following motorcycle accidents. This population has been through some form of trauma whether they realize it or not. Some people deal with trauma differently. For example, many motorcyclists engage in drug and alcohol to feel most comfortable because they face traumatic situations on the road, daily. Many of the traumatic experiences are caused by automotive drivers. According to “Nolo” (2016), Crashes involving motorcycles and other vehicles account for fifty-six percent of motorcycle accident deaths. In the vast majority of these accidents, the car strikes the
“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for teens (16-17),” reported The New York State Department of Health. The most exciting thing about being sixteen in the United States is driving. Teenagers can not wait to be sixteen to drive, however, they do not understand the dangers that come with driving at such a young age. Sixteen is the age between child life and adulthood. It is a time when they are not stable and undergoing change, which makes them unsuitable to drive. Many teenagers would say that they need to get to places. In response to that claim, there are public transportation systems and bikes as available alternatives for young drivers. The financial stability and matureness of eighteen year olds proves
II. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, bicycle related crashes kill about 900 people a year and injure over half a million. Most bicycle deaths or accidents occur between 3-9 pm, and most often occur during the summer months. We can prevent these numbers by: wearing protective equipment, obeying the rules of the road, and being aware of your surroundings.
Bicycles, the one way we got to move around as kids, and as adults it is the one way we get around too, because cars are mainstream. Safety is an issue when it comes to bicycling and that why the helmet is an important factor when it comes to safety for bikes. Every year, in the U.S, nearly 900 persons die from injuries due to bicycle crashes and over 500,000 persons are being treated in emergency departments. Head injuries are by far the greatest concern for bicyclists, causing one third of emergency department visits, two thirds of hospital admissions, and three fourths of deaths. There are other injuries such as facial injuries, which occur at a rate nearly the same to head injuries. It is hard to trust that helmets would be protective against head injury, but establishing the real effectiveness of helmets is important.
“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers” -Dave Barry, comedian. The number of accidents over the last ten years have drastically increased, drivers are paying less attention to the road itself. Many individuals behind the wheel of a car believe that their driving does not affect the road conditions, however it always will. The driving habits of today are catastrophic due to the reasoning that the driving will affect other lives through reckless or distracted driving, and disobeying traffic laws.
Over the last few decades, the use of cell phones has become a very common tool. Furthermore, Technology has certainly advanced, and the cell phone is becoming the most preferred mode of communication. The demand for a cell phone is growing every day. In addition, the use of wireless technology is affordable, and anyone can buy a cell phone at a reasonable price. They come in all shapes and sizes. They range from black to bright metallic white. American public use of cell phones is increasing everyday. As the number of people using cell phones increase, the use of cell phones while driving will also increase on our streets and highways. At the same rate, motorists still converse on cell phones and write text messages while driving. Motorist will also engage in other activities apart from driving. For example, drivers will text when driving, and they will dial numbers. Drivers will receive calls and converse with the recipient for long periods. Again, driving demands your full attention, and your concentration needed when talking on the phone. However, it means that the driver has to divert his attention to the conversation, which leads to less concentration on the road. On the contrary, one can therefore connect motorist’s accidents and cell phone usage while driving.
I have discussed major safety topics including road and work safety and their effect in our daily living. We can’t evade from danger. The importance is that we learn to control and avoid factors that can cause us harm, injury or loss. This starts by making smart decisions. We should continue to teach our children to detect unsafe situations, places, things, and elements at an early age so that they practice safety habits throughout their life. In conclusion, is better to be safe than sorry.