Motorcycle Fatalities Are Up

Posted on | August 2, 2007 | Comments Off on Motorcycle Fatalities Are Up

Stupid Has No Age Limits

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently cheered a 2% drop in highway deaths in 2006. (WSJ 7-31/07, D2, Joseph B. White) The 42,642 deaths that year was the lowest rate per 100 million vehicle miles ever recorded. Most of the improvement was likely due to advances in auto safety technology like side-mounted air bags. What didn’t make the headlines was the fact that 4,810, or roughly 10% of the fatalities, were the result of motorcycle crashes, up 5.1% over the prior year, and the highest percent ever recorded.

It seems sales of motorcycles have surged since 1990. Who’s buying? Boomers! The average age of motorcycle owners now exceeds 40 years. Over 25% of the bikes are owned by AARP eligibles (over 50) – up from 10% in 1990.

If you have an accident on a motorcycle, you are 34 times more likely to die compared to auto accident victims. The average age of dead riders is now 38, with ages 40 to 49 on a steep upward incline. Most are riding the “big hogs” –1000 to 1500 cubic centimeter displacement heavy cruisers from Harley-Davidson, Honda and Yamaha.

Speeding plays a role in one third of the crashes and over half involve alcohol. Not only are the fallen grey cyclists riding too fast, and riding tipsy, they’re also riding increasingly without helmets. Why? Because legislation in 30 states — thanks to lobbying groups like ABATE – say it’s OK. That includes my own state, Connecticut.

Here’s what ABATE says about itself and its origins:

“In the early 1970’s, a mandatory helmet use bill was first introduced in California and brought the motorcycle community together. Easyriders magazine and a few supportive groups formed a new national organization named ABATE, standing for ‘A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments.’ Presently, depending on the state, the letters stand for ‘American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education,’ or ‘American Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments.” Whatever the name, all ABATE organizations around the country share the same common concerns and goals….. ABATE also employs a professional lobbyist in Sacramento. The lobbyist and ABATE of California also work with the Washington, D.C. lobbyists of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and other motorcyclists’ rights organizations (MROs) to preserve our freedoms at a national level. ABATEPAC continually monitors the California Legislature for unfair or unconstitutional motorcycle legislation and represents the interests of the California motorcyclist and works to ensure riders’ freedom of choice.”

YIKES!!! Aren’t we supposed to get wiser as we get older?