JCsman
10-11-2006, 06:11 PM
I ran across this gem of reporting. I suspect it falls into two of my favorite categtories:
- There are liars, damn liars and statisticians; and
- Reporters are idiots
I strongly suspect a "provocative" piece of data was used to make the story more interesting. For example, suppose the data (made up to make my point) went something like this:
Helmetless Helmeted
Injury % 44 Injurt % 44.5
Deaths % 12 Deaths % 4
Now, what the above would say is you are more likely to die or be injured w/o a helmet. Newsworthiness value 0. Or, by cherry picking, youy can say less injuries going naked (on your head). Newsworthiness value 10!
As I say, this is just my speculation. But, if so, what a disservice.
Read 'em and weap.
New Stats Show Motorcycle Drivers Dodge Death by Not Wearing Helmets
9/30/2005
By Sandy D'Elosua/WCJB TV20 News
Many folks are surprised about new figures released from the Department of Motor Vehicles. They show that motorcycle drivers who do not wear a helmet are less likely to die in crashes than those that do.
The figures come from Florida's annual traffic crash report from 2004.
Forty four and one half percent of all motorcycle drivers in accidents suffered incapacitating injuries while wearing a helmet in 2004.
Less than 44 percent suffered similar injuries while not wearing the protective head gear.
Some say those numbers are skewed because there are more bikers on the roads, but others believe if you are traveling fast enough, the damage will be done no matter what you wear.
"A helmet will bounce and in the case of bouncing on an impact, it will induce stress on the neck and in fact break your neck or cause some damage to the spinal column," Alachua County Chopper Owner Nelson Citta said.
Troopers say the cost of speeding tickets went up because so many were not wearing helmets.
You do have the right not to wear a helmet if you have a 10,000 dollar bodily injury insurance policy.
- There are liars, damn liars and statisticians; and
- Reporters are idiots
I strongly suspect a "provocative" piece of data was used to make the story more interesting. For example, suppose the data (made up to make my point) went something like this:
Helmetless Helmeted
Injury % 44 Injurt % 44.5
Deaths % 12 Deaths % 4
Now, what the above would say is you are more likely to die or be injured w/o a helmet. Newsworthiness value 0. Or, by cherry picking, youy can say less injuries going naked (on your head). Newsworthiness value 10!
As I say, this is just my speculation. But, if so, what a disservice.
Read 'em and weap.
New Stats Show Motorcycle Drivers Dodge Death by Not Wearing Helmets
9/30/2005
By Sandy D'Elosua/WCJB TV20 News
Many folks are surprised about new figures released from the Department of Motor Vehicles. They show that motorcycle drivers who do not wear a helmet are less likely to die in crashes than those that do.
The figures come from Florida's annual traffic crash report from 2004.
Forty four and one half percent of all motorcycle drivers in accidents suffered incapacitating injuries while wearing a helmet in 2004.
Less than 44 percent suffered similar injuries while not wearing the protective head gear.
Some say those numbers are skewed because there are more bikers on the roads, but others believe if you are traveling fast enough, the damage will be done no matter what you wear.
"A helmet will bounce and in the case of bouncing on an impact, it will induce stress on the neck and in fact break your neck or cause some damage to the spinal column," Alachua County Chopper Owner Nelson Citta said.
Troopers say the cost of speeding tickets went up because so many were not wearing helmets.
You do have the right not to wear a helmet if you have a 10,000 dollar bodily injury insurance policy.