Motorcyclists that white line it

audiobliss

shack wrote: »

I live real close to the Tail of the Dragon...A well known enthusiast road for cars and bikes alike. While there are more idiots on the bikes...the drivers of the cars pull their share of bone-head stuff. When you have 318 curves in 11 miles...crossing the yellow line, acting line you are on a GP road course by cutting the curves, etc is dangerous for everyone. Several deaths each year (always bikers) and most could be avoided if they and the car drivers didn't act like such idiots.

Oh, oh, a friend and I just drove out to drive the Tail last week. It wasn't what I was expecting...though I'm not sure what I was expecting...but it certainly was a blast! Very fun stretch of road! The only real downer were the few people who must live somewhere near there and were NOT interested in speeding up OR pulling over. Most of the enthusiasts we saw out there were being pretty civil, though we did go on a Thursday afternoon.

WilliamM2

Several deaths each year (always bikers) and most could be avoided if they and the car drivers didn't act like such idiots.

Several deaths? The last fifteen years have averaged 1.6 per year.

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html

FATALITIES: CLICK HERE for map with death location since 2000

Many people confuse deaths from as far away as 100 miles as being "on the Dragon". The Tail of the Dragon is only 11 miles long and the following facts pertain only to those 11 miles. There are more motorcycle deaths on other roads in Blount County Tennessee than there are on the Dragon each year.
2009 - Two deaths as of July 9: June 27. HD rider from Miami went off road, reason unknown (possible heart attack). Friends and LEOs searched several hour before finding body. A female HD rider died at mm 5.0 when she went off the road.
2008 -Three deaths: One sportbike went off road and hit tree near Thunder Road Bend. One cruiser went off road in Ron's Run with rider suffering heart attack. One trike went off road and struck tree.
2007 - Three deaths: One low side at Guadrail Cliff. Trike versus a vehicle near the Wall claimed the lives of an older rider and his passenger. Both accidents in July.
2006 - Two deaths: One rider went off road and hit tree another low sided into an oncoming vehicle.
2005 - Three deaths: All three deaths involved failing to negociate corners - two went off the mountain and one slid into an oncoming vehicle.
2004 - Two deaths: Both deaths apparently caused by speed and then overbraking.
2003 - No deaths: There were several deaths in the surrounding area of the Dragon, but none that we know of on the 11 miles of the Dragon itself.
2002 - Two deaths: On June 16 a 29 year-old Dale Bently a Valkyrie rider from Michigan died on the Dragon. The rider was passing a car near the Horns of the Dragon when he wrecked and suffered fatal head injuries. The second death occurred on Sunday August 4 when Lendry R. Obanna Jr., 24, of Jacksonville, Florida, lost control of his 2000 Yamaha R6.
2001 - Two deaths: The entire Blount County (home of the Dragon) saw a total of four motorycle fatalities in 2001. The total includes the deaths of a 27-year-old Knoxville man who died March 10 in a collision on Old Knoxville Highway in Rockford, the May 5th death on the Dragon, the July 5th death of a 43-year-old Maryville man in an accident on Happy Valley Road, and the October 27th death on the Dragon.
2000 - One death: Blount County had four motorcycle deaths in 2000 including one fatality on the Dragon.
1999 - One death: Only one motorcycle death in 1999
1998 - No deaths: No fatal motorcycle crashes in 1998.
1997 - One death: A single motorcycle fatality is listed in 1997.
1996 - One death: A single motorcycle fatality in 1996.
1995 - Two deaths: In 1995, two men died in separate July 3 motorcycle crashes on the Dragon during the July 4 holiday weekend.

shack

Several deaths? The last fifteen years have averaged 1.6 per year.

I'm not sure why you want to argue the point. I live here and KNOW what is happening...especially in the last few years as it has become known all over the world a great riding/driving road. I also drive it (Foothills Parkway, The Dragon and Cherohala Skyway loop) on average about once a month. Not just for the road, but I do a lot of hiking and photography in the area.

But since you do....

There has been another fatality this year since the date of the list you posted. A woman from Canada died on 8-3. There were actually 4 in 2008. There have been fatalities almost every year on 129 either just north of Tabcat bridge or south of Deals Gap around Cheoah Dam. While they are not on the "official" dragon, they are just before and just after and are part of the Dragon traffic. To me 3 (or more) deaths per year in 4 of the last five and an average of 3 per year is several IMO...especially for an 11 mile stretch of road. Here is the map:



Of course those statistics do not count all the accidents that are not fatal. Blount County TN, Swain County NC and Graham County NC are having real problems covering the costs of responding to all the accidents and have far exceeded their budgets in the last couple of years and are looking for substantial increase in funding.

By any standard the Dragon has gotten a lot of attention from the area LEOs because of the accidents. The State Police, and the local Sheriffs have stepped up patrols and have become a significant presence....and there are still fatalities...all motorcyclist unfortunately...so far.

Poee7R

Deals gap is awesome, well used to be. Too many cops these days, or past rather, havent been on that road in a couple of years. I think 28N has become a better spot, alot less traffic, tourist's and cops.

I ride, its one of the only things in this world I see myself always doing, as long as I can see and swing a leg over, Im on it. Yes there are Ftard bikers, but from a bikers point of view, its nothing compared to the amount of ****'s in cars that try to kill you every moment of your ride. I couldnt count the number of times some schmuck has caused me to swerve off the road, almost run into oncoming traffic or just plain made me **** my pants, thinking this is the one. I drive a car also, as expected, but I believe riding for so long has made me a better driver, alot better.

No matter where you go, with speed and steel, there are going to be deaths. Its part of the territory, accept it, or stay home. Really the only two choices that there are.


Dave

JohnLocke88

In Cali, lane splitting is legal, as there is no traffic regulation prohibiting two vehicles from sharing a single lane.

I hate those **** though. Glad the idiot got finished off completely, or I'm sure he would have sued the poor shmuck that he hit.

Sherardp

I like riding on one wheel. I went shopping this weekend since selling my MV Agusta but didnt find anything. I'm looking for a sexy 09 R1, but the dealer didnt have anything in stock. Man I miss my bikes.

Norm Apter

Ron-P wrote: »

A few? Do you drive in CA? I'd say a good 75% of motorcyclists here are a-holes, and the way they ride proves it. I rarely come across a respectful motorcyclist.

I have to heartily agree with Ron but the key to his statement is "in California" I have lived and driven in a few other states and I never even noticed motorcycles, which leads me to believe that they just blended in there.

But out here, at least on the 405, the 10 and especially the winding seaside PCH I always see them weaving in and out in what I would deem an unsafe manner, even when traffic is moving along...many just seem to want to get ahead. Again, I'm not branding all motorcycles nationwide dangerous but this is definately the norm in CA. Just last week I was driving up the PCH and after hitting congestion for several minutes passed the scene of an accident. A bike was splayed out on the road and dude was being put on a stretcher.

shack

For WilliamM2's benefit…based on his contention that the average of 1.6 deaths per year is not several...

The 5th motorcycle rider death of 2009 occurred on the Dragon today. In addition there was a "cager" (what bikers call the car drivers) death just south of the Dragon in August which is a rarity. I was talking to someone who works in the area and his opinion is that there are just lots of stupid, inexperienced people that show up that don't have a clue what they are doing. This is a difficult road to ride/drive even in good conditions with good skills. I've been driving and riding this road for 30+ years (well before anyone outside of the area knew about it). It is getting scary and a few idiots are ruining things for everyone else.

Hopefully there won't be any more fatalities this year and we can keep the average down....