A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania's

POSITION: Motorcycle Safety and Awareness

The Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) of Pennsylvania supports the education of all motorcyclists and the general motoring public as the most effective method for reducing motorcycle accidents, injuries and fatalities.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania encourages all motorcyclists to complete both of the motorcycle safety courses, which were developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and are sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania discourages the use of alcohol or drugs while operating, or riding as a passenger on, a motorcycle.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania is in agreement with the United States Department of Transportation that motorcycle safety courses have been the single most important factor in significantly reducing motorcycle injuries and fatalities.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania is committed to providing motorcycle awareness training to the general motoring public through the presentation of its "Operation-Save-A-Life" program and associated public service campaigns.

DISCUSSION:

In 1972 the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) Safety and Education Foundation, Inc. (MICSEF) was organized. At that time, there were 3,649,059 motorcycles registered in the United States. A year later, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) was formed. Due to the gasoline shortage and the public's desire to have more economical transportation, motorcycle registrations reached 4,357,753 by the end of 1973.

At that time, motorcycle rider training was not an issue that governmental bodies in the states considered important. In fact, there were 12 states in which a motorcycle operator's license wasn't even required. It wasn't until 1994, 21 years later, before every state enacted a law requiring a separate endorsement to operate a motorcycle.

Knowing what we do today about the positive effect of motorcycle riding skills training and the lack of licensing requirements in many states four decades ago, the pressure exerted on the states by the Federal government to enact helmet laws "to prevent motorcycle accidents" is ludicrous. Only recently, after the statistics showed a contrary conclusion, has the claim about motorcycle helmets "preventing accidents" been abandoned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In May of 2000, the former head of NHTSA under President Carter, Joan Claybrook, publicly apologized for having used contrived statistical conclusions to promote the mandatory inclusion of air bags in automobiles. Speaking to the issue of NHTSA's declining credibility with the public given the ongoing fiasco over air bags, Miss Claybrook admitted that NHTSA's false or inaccurate claims over the years have "hurt" the agency's reputation and believability. However, junk science emanating from NHTSA during the Claybrook era, which has been used to provide a variety of dubious conclusions, still permeates the public debate over helmet use.

Today as motorcycle injuries and fatalities continue to decline, the number of motorcycle registrations and MSF trained students is on the rise. In 1999, over 150,000 students received MSF training throughout the country. Approximately 10% of those were Pennsylvania motorcyclists. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales in the United States increased 25%. Based on recent industry figures, this represents an increase of over 1,000,000 motorcycle registrations.

At the same time, the number of states mandating helmet use for adults is decreasing. In the last 3 years, beginning early in 1997, four states have repealed their mandatory helmet law for adults. The legislatures of four other states have also voted to do the same however, in three of those states the governors took it upon themselves to ignore the supported facts and the will of the people. In Florida, a bill currently awaits the governor's signature. As of May 15, 2000, twenty-nine states and the territory of Guam do not mandate motorcycle helmets for adults. 47 states now provide funding for motorcycle safety courses in excess of $16 million. Clearly, the wisdom of safety education as the right way to protect riders has been accepted throughout the country.

In addition, because approximately half of the accidents involving motorcycles are the fault of other vehicle operators, motorcycle awareness programs are a necessary and very important part of the motorcycle safety formula. Operation-Save-A-Life, endorsed by the governor and PennDOT, has had a positive influence on high school students who have received the training as a part of their Driver's Education classes.

It should be obvious, even to the casual observer, that the increase in properly trained motorcycle operators has had a positive effect toward decreasing the number of injuries and fatalities. Were this not the case, and if we are to believe those who rely on legislation rather than education, the increase in the number of registered motorcycles on the road coupled with fewer states mandating helmet use should have produced a significant increase in the number of motorcycle related injuries and fatalities.

Similar to the arguments put forth prior to the increase in highway speed limits, opponents to the repeal of mandatory helmet laws for adults project catastrophic carnage and increased costs to the public ranging into the millions of dollars. When speed limits were finally increased these predictions were proven false and, in fact, highway deaths decreased. There have been no actual figures produced from "free states" which indicate allowing optional helmet use by adults creates the kind of public burden repeal opponents project. Conversely, with no change in its mandatory helmet law and an increase in the number of registrations, Pennsylvania's motorcycle fatality rate has declined significantly as the number of professionally trained operators increases.

A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania is in the process of:

Formulating incentives to insure participation by all of its members in a motorcycle safety course.

Re-defining and refining Operation-Save-A-Life while at the same time seeking financial assistance through grants to increase the program's acceptance and influence throughout the state.

Continuing to produce and direct educational materials in an on-going effort to eliminate riding under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Encouraging its experienced members to participate as Certified Instructors of the Motorcycle Safety Course.

Developing public service announcements to increase the general motoring public's awareness level for the need to remain alert to the presence of motorcyclists and to share the road with them.