Kick Start Motorcycle Safety

As motorcycle registrations have increased so have motorcycle fatalities. In 2005, motorcycle deaths peaked at 73 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles. That may seem like a relatively small percentage, but compared to the passenger vehicle fatality rate of 14 per 100,000 registered vehicles, it is alarmingly high. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motorcycle fatalities now account for 11 percent of total roadway fatalities nationwide.

Motorcycle education and training may be one way to kick start motorcycle safety and reduce the number of motorcycle crashes and related deaths and injuries. Operator training and education is supported by motorcycle rider organizations, motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry, with dealers and manufacturers promoting proper training and licensing at the point of sale.

Many states fund training classes that cover information on roadway and other vehicle hazards; safe riding practices including lane usage, defensive riding strategies, proper braking and panic braking techniques; the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; the importance of wearing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218-compliant helmets and other protective equipment; and strategies to enhance visibility of motorcycles and their riders (for example, the use of headlight during the day or wearing brightly colored clothing). Increased funding would enable more motorcyclists to enroll in training or refresher courses.

In addition to state-funded training, the motorcycling community has implemented motorcycle rider training programs to help reduce crash frequency. These programs are. a step in the right direction and would benefit from further support from the larger traffic safety community.

Another kick start to motorcycle safety could be the promotion of protective gear through motorcycle rider groups, dealers and manufacturers. The most important protective gear is the helmet. FMVSS compliant helmets, labeled on the back with ?DOT?, need to be actively promoted since they are effective in reducing the number of head and brain injuries. Noncompliant helmets, referred to as novelty helmets, provide a false sense of safety because they lack the ability to absorb impact energy in a motorcycle crash and their helmet strap retention systems do not ensure that they will stay fastened on impact.

Protective gear also includes jackets, pants, boots and gloves. Well-constructed gear can prevent abrasions and bruises. If made of impact-resistant material, they may prevent arm and leg fractures or serious organ and spinal cord injuries. The hope is that through advocacy, especially in rider groups, peer pressure to resist compliance will be reduced.

The final critical element to crash reduction involves the traffic engineering component. Motorcycle safety could be advanced with roads designed, built and maintained to accommodate the safety needs of all motor vehicles. Pavement ridges, potholes, manhole covers, slippery pavement markings and sealants and road repair substances can affect motorcycle traction. If these roadway hazards cannot be eliminated or modified, motorcyclists should be warned through appropriate signage.

Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the road. Through implementation of these safety measures motorcyclists may be able to kick start their cycles with more confidence.

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