The Knights Table

Monthly Newsletter January 2013

Greetings from your President   Will

January was a great month for the Knights. The other day I was riding somewhere and all I saw a group of riders that was considerably younger than I am.  Got me to thinking about it. Mark (Ridebell) has sent me many good articles in the past, one dealing with just this subject. Here are some highlights:

 Some crash analysis studies indicate that as the median age for motorcyclists increased in recent years, the rate of involvement in traffic incidents also increased.

 

 General Facts

The following data and information was gleaned from reputable sources and applies to operators of motor vehicles in general. Where applicable, motorcycle-specific information is provided.

 

1. There are more than 18.9 million licensed drivers in the U.S. who are 70 or older. By 2020, it is estimated there will be more than 30 million licensed drivers age 70-plus.

2. One of every three drivers in America is now over 55 years of age. The typical U.S. motorcycle owner is about 41 years old compared with 24 years old in 1980.

3. The primary traffic violation committed by drivers aged 50 and over is “failure to observe the right-of-way.”

4. Another common traffic violation committed by drivers aged 50 and over is “improper left turn.”

5. The effects of aging occur gradually over time and deterioration may not be noticed.

6. About 20 percent of people age 55 and 30 percent of those over age 65 are hearing impaired.

7. Relatively few deaths of elderly people, 75 years of age and older, involve motor vehicles; but they have higher rates of fatal crashes per mile than younger drivers.

8. Recent data show that of the more than 57,000 drivers involved in fatal crashes annually, more than 10,000 of those were over 55 years of age.

9. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that about 50 percent of all medications that older persons take could interact with alcohol. Combining medications and alcohol may cause serious adverse reactions and risky behaviors.

10. Countermeasures that have proven beneficial in reducing the more risky aspects of aging include physical therapy, perceptual therapy, driver education, and modern highway and vehicle engineering.

 

Now while I’m not saying that any of us are over the hill, I have found that the older and more experienced we get the more complacent we are. The time to start not paying extra attention is not as we get older. From time to time I’ll add to this with some other safety tips.

Of Note:

Don't forget that any member can make a suggestion about a ride or an event. We are always looking for more new places to ride to. So if you know of a place or an event, make sure to suggest it on our website.

While we try to mix up our rides as much as possible, it's highly unlikely that I'm going to please everyone all the time. I hope everyone has been enjoying the rides that I have been on our schedule so far. I am always looking for feedback and new ideas. Your participation is what makes this club great.

 

 

In Addition:

We have been having some really awesome rides:

 January started off with a great ride planned for Dania Jai-Alai. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we were forced to settle for a nice breakfast instead. I’ll try and reschedule that one at another time.

 The next ride was really very special.  We had a real nice day at the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.  The ride there was really nice going along the beach with a stop at Hutchinson Island.  Our brother  Tim lead us to an outstanding place for lunch on the Beach. The ride home took us on one of my favorite routes, Indian River Drive.

January 19^th found us headed to Harry and the Natives.  While the ride there was good, once again the weather started to suck and we kind of split up after breakfast. Some of us headed down the beach, while a couple of the guys went north to the Harley Dealer.

Last weekend we had a real nice turn out for The 7th Annual Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show. Of course leaving Paul Sachse stranded was another of my brain malfunctions. Sorry Paul. The show was great, I even got my picture taken with a pretty girl. (Thanks Greenies)!! We all then headed out to Café 27 where we had a nice lunch while being entertained by a real tight band. We took different routes home in perfect weather.

 

 

Upcoming Rides

Don’t miss out on:

Seminole Casino Brighton –Feb 2^nd

Swap Meet- Feb 9^th

Tech day/BBQ @ Will's- Feb 17^th.

Swamp Cabbage Festival- Feb 23^rd

 

Member Photo of the month

Steve (Gunner) Cohen

Our new Tail gunner has been with us from the start. Steve is absolutely one of the BEST Tail gunner out there I feel great knowing he’s back there. Thanks Gunner.