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AMA urges DOT to accelerate motorcycle crash study
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2008/amadot.asp?s=rss

AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman called for the U.S. Department of Transportation to accelerate a long-overdue federal study into the causes of motorcycle crashes in a meeting with the agency's head, Secretary Mary Peters, on Friday, October 3. Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) David Kelly, and AMA Vice President of Government Relations Ed Moreland also attended the meeting.

"There are an estimated 10 million motorcyclists on the road today, more than at any time in America's history," said Dingman, who heads the nation's 300,000-member non-profit association. "As a direct result of this growth and increased usage, we are experiencing more crashes, injuries and fatalities. Our meeting with Secretary Peters--a motorcyclist herself--was cordial yet frank. We believe she understands the sense of urgency to get this crash research underway."

According to NHTSA statistics released by Peter's office in September, the number of motorcycle riders or passengers killed on U.S. roads in 2007 increased 6.6 percent over 2006, while the overall number of traffic fatalities fell to the lowest number since 1994.

"Some time ago, Congress and the motorcycling community committed the necessary funds for this study," said Dingman. "For too long, NHTSA has simply focused on a strategy of advocating mandatory helmet use, while doing little to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place. With a new administration set to take office on January 20, we can't afford any more delays while motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities continue to mount. The time to begin the study is now."

Dingman stressed that while the AMA strongly supports voluntary helmet use as one element of a comprehensive approach to motorcycle safety, a higher priority must be given by NHTSA to crash prevention, which must include greater emphasis on motorist awareness programs to educate road users about motorcycles.

The crash study is being undertaken by the Oklahoma Transportation Center, an independent and well-respected research facility at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The last major motorcycle crash study was completed in 1980, and it provided a wealth of data that has been used to develop training and strategies to help keep riders safer on the road. In the decades since, the traffic environment has changed enormously, prompting the AMA to begin campaigning for a new study several years ago.

"The idea behind the motorcycle crash causation study is to help us understand the causes of crashes so that effective countermeasures can be developed," said Dingman. "Absent this study, countermeasures will continue to be developed in a vacuum, with no way to know which measures will be effective."

In their meeting Friday, Dingman also urged Secretary Peters to reject New York City's request to ban motorcycles from high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Federal law stipulates that HOV lanes must allow motorcycles to use the lanes unless proven to pose a safety hazard.

"Secretary Peters was supportive of our desire to end New York City's illegal ticketing of motorcyclists in HOV lanes," said Dingman

The AMA has an official line on choice for helmets. Look deeper. These guys want helmet laws very badly. This study will achieve that for them. They know it, and that is why they want it.

I am holding my hand up making a sign. Study this AMA!

I have noticed that the AMA has sold us out on several issues over the last few years all in the name of "compromise". Whatever they call it, it's still selling us out.

Well, I can save 'em a whole passel o' moolah here!

Yep! I can tell 'em what causes "motorcycle crashes", alright! And I can even tell 'em why people who crash their motorcycle, or better yet, are crashed into by cagers tend to get a mite more banged up than those cagers out there TOO!

It's because...now, are you listening AMA and Uncle Sam...it's because...listen up now...are ya ready...it's because we're riding...MOTORCYCLES, and a sizeable percentage of folks ridin' 'em sometimes forget that a sizeable percentage of cagers out there ARE CLUELESS, and when they forget this they sometimes get hurt "kind'a bad", ya know.

And now after having said that, let me assure those private associations and governmental agencies seeking this bit of "information" that even though I know there's a greater risk to my well-bein' whenever I'm ridin' these babies, I'm STILL gonna ride 'em NO MATTER WHAT, just like I have been for 41 years!!!

Now, wasn't that simple!

(and now with all this money I've just saved all these afforementioned entities, maybe they can use all that money to help put a dent in that 700 BILLION BUCKS they're about to give Wall Street)

Homicidal and Suicidal cagers aside, we can add:
Drinking and Riding
Inexperience
Inattentiveness

Hey, that is all the same things that cause car accidents, only with higher stakes.

My own extensive studies have found the number one cause of motorcycle accidents is a myopic species called
Automobilus Oblivious Doofi.
This species demonstrates a dangerous, self-distracting practice of multi-tasking; often eating, sleeping, even procreating
while in the midst of it's daily migration.
While they may occasionally appear to be domesticated,
the AOD is a wild species.
They are to be avoided at all costs.

Hmm, not sure I wouldn't argue that a close cousin, "motorcylis Oblivious Doofi", is also a leading cause of bike accidents. I seem to have read something earlier this year that many bik accidents are self-inflicted.

Quote:

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My own extensive studies have found the number one cause of motorcycle accidents is a myopic species called
Automobilus Oblivious Doofi.
This species demonstrates a dangerous, self-distracting practice of multi-tasking; often eating, sleeping, even procreating
while in the midst of it's daily migration.
While they may occasionally appear to be domesticated,
the AOD is a wild species.
They are to be avoided at all costs.

---

As far as the AMA, I don't trust em. Suits in occasional leathers. And I sure wish this kind of attention could be raised for those f****n deer and their relationship to car and motorcycle accidents. And finally, after adopting my new motorcycle clothing line, Large pink hat with a purple flower, orange jumpsuit and giant red shoes, I am feeling a lot safer now, even without the AMA's help. Although, I am kinda getting tired of little kids running to me and screaming for ice cream!

Hard to know who to believe with today's slap happy media, but it reads to me "crash causes." I do believe the results of a crash cause study are going to lean heavily toward inability to negotiate corners at speed, which can be effectively remedied in large part by proper training. Today's minimum licensing requirement of how to ride a parking lot is not providing that particular skill set.

In that vein, I can't hate the AMA for looking forward so as to lower those numbers, as a means to stave off future "don't run with the scissors" type regulation and legalities.
An NHTSA required gyro coupled to a speed limiter comes to mind...

Exactly my 24 yr old daughters experience, thankfully survived.

Quote:

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.......I do believe the results of a crash cause study are going to lean heavily toward inability to negotiate corners at speed, which can be effectively remedied in large part by proper training. Today's minimum licensing requirement of how to ride a parking lot is not providing that particular skill set.

.....

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You can make your own conclusions about safety gear here: The Hurt Report
and regarding the 25% that are only bike wrecks:

Per the NHTSA:
Report Conclusions: Findings from the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data illustrate reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes:

Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent
More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads
High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators
Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash
Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway
Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities
Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash
Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night
Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities
Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities
More riders age 40 and over are getting killed
Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license

The real problem is that the Hurt report is over a decade old and the NHTSA finding is over 5 years old. There have been significant changes to our population and the AMA is right to pursue this.

Whenever I hear of these "studies" I fear the conclusions drawn with try to make a point about the vehicle in question, not the operator, ya know?

Yep, spent a lot of time looking at the Hurt study and reading other's who also did the same-seems to me if Gov't. was REALLY serious they would have alcohol locks on all motor vehicles. Don't hate me for this-I know it's kind of Big Brother-but I've had SEVERAL good friends killed by drunks. It is not nice. Something that only lets the phone come thru the radio would really help, too. You all know that I'm sure. It's like pinball with the soccor moms and high profile bankers at rush hour with them not paying one bit of attention.

From these facts it sounds to me like a lot of fatalities are caused by inadequately trained riders who don't ride enough to remain competent. Especially if they haven't ridden for 20 years and get back on a great big cruiser that they don't really don't have control of. From my front porch I can see 4 houses with bikes that have not moved in a month that I know of. It seems it would be hard to stay sharp if you don't ride. CAUTION: This vheicle has only two wheels and all laws of physics apply.

I think what everyone is missing here is that the danger of riding motorcycles has been greatly increased in the last few years due to cell phone use. This is overlooked due to the emphasis on drunk driving. While drumk driving is admittedly hazardous, I believe studies have shown a driver on a cell phone is just as dangerous as someone with a 0.08 percent blood alcoho level -- and cell phone use is probably far more prevalent. Yet here in California, the penalty for driving while on a cell phone is $20, while the penalty for drunk driving cost you thousands of dollars and potentially time in jail. (As a more ridicules comparison, the penalty for driving in a car pool lane is almost $400). Perhaps MADD should forgo some of there politically correct crusade against relatively low blood alcohol levels and focus on cell phone use.

I agree. Last session (in Maryland), I sent this email to my House of Rep's delegate and the Majority Leader in the Senate. I didn't even get a reply. A few weeks ago, I send it again to my delegate and our local State Senator. Again, no response. I'm sending it to the local newspaper next. Last session, a Delegate actually proposed a bill to keep dogs from riding in the back of pick-up trucks. I think I'm entitled to as much concern, right? Here's what I sent:

Subject: Cell Phone Use in Autos


Senator Miller:
What is the chance of making Maryland's cell phone law more restrictive than the current structure (basically applies to under 18 yrs of age)? I would request Maryland enact laws similar to the ones created in New Jersey and Washington DC which requires the use of a hands-free device. I drive all over the East coast for my job, approximately 60,000 miles per year. Laws in the state of Maryland protect me from smokers, auto accidents and motorcycle accidents but I'd much rather see a law in place protecting me from cars driven by folks just not paying attention. There appear to be several bills active during this current session protecting animal rights. While I am a dog lover, I'd much rather see my elected officials working on legislation that protects my safety above that of an animal.

It is completely obvious to me through my experiences driving a large amount of miles on the highways of the East coast that using a cell phone and driving just doesn't make sense. You may want to read the information from this we blink to gain a deeper knowledge of the effects of cell phone use in autos and trucks:
http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/research/cellphones/

I'm curious to hear your opinions in this matter.

Quote:

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I think what everyone is missing here is that the danger of riding motorcycles has been greatly increased in the last few years due to cell phone use. This is overlooked due to the emphasis on drunk driving. While drumk driving is admittedly hazardous, I believe studies have shown a driver on a cell phone is just as dangerous as someone with a 0.08 percent blood alcoho level -- and cell phone use is probably far more prevalent. Yet here in California, the penalty for driving while on a cell phone is $20, while the penalty for drunk driving cost you thousands of dollars and potentially time in jail. (As a more ridicules comparison, the penalty for driving in a car pool lane is almost $400). Perhaps MADD should forgo some of there politically correct crusade against relatively low blood alcohol levels and focus on cell phone use.

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I agree for lots of people cell phones are a major distraction, but I don't think it should take away from drunk driving awareness... People can be distracted by anything...

My point isn't that drunk driving isn't dangerous but that cell phone use is likely just as dangerous. I don't think cell phone use is just another distraction. Motorcycle death rates per mile have like doubled in the past 10 - 15 years. What's changed? I don't think people have started drinking more -- on the contrary, drunk driving laws are more stringent and enforced more strictly. The variable that has changed is the increased use of cell phones and motorcyclists are being killed as a result. Just as drinking and driving don't mix, neither do talking on a phone and driving. Before cell phones we seemed to manage just fine without having to talk on a phone while we drive.

When I see people talking on the phone when I'm on the bike, and they have the window down, I make sure I ride right next to them. I have Scepters. Am I an a-hole or what?

Every day I ride I play this game, "kill Bob". So far, I've never lost. Not to be sexist, but I feel my most formidable opponents are young girls on cell phones.

Young girls are the worst...besides their heavy cell phone use, for some reason they are the most likely to be the ones that will try and beat you off the line at a stoplight or not let you in when merging.

In the late 60s I had a friend killed in Birmingham, AL. He was riding his motorcycle down a 2 lane road that passed by a triangle intersection of another 2 lane road. A 16 year old girl went through the stop sign where you turn right onto the road he was riding on and ran right into him.

That was almost 40 years ago when no cell phones existed. It's hard enough keeping aware of what's on the road without distractions. I fear it's getting much worse with a larger number of drivers both young and old.

As for what has changed, there are other things, but distractions in general have definitely gone up (Sat radio, GPS, cell phones, MP3, etc).

As for the young girls.... call me sexist. When I was in HS, the big thing was teenage boy drivers were "worse", and hence cost more to insure, etc. My assertion was that we were BETTER drivers, BUT we let our ego drive us too much, and hance caused more catastrophic crashes. HOWEVER, girls had more FREQUENT accidents, just way lower cost. Backing into the mail man, other parked cars, curbs, shopping carts, etc. My theory was, and 15 years later remains, males have much better spacial relations and just plain understand the physics better (end gross generalization...).

Running yourself off the road at 100 mph is just stupid. Not being able to paralell park is bad driving Looks like things haven't changed much!

Were there parellel parking opportunities in VT, Benny?

Sure! We were parked in them in front of the cafe in Bennington

When it comes to creating do-gooder & federal lawmaker attention drawing fatality numbers, a portion of motorcyclists are their own worst enemy

http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx
See 9th row down

More info
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/motorcycle-accident-statistics.htm