Category: Biker News

When gasoline prices topped out in 2008 at $4.04 per gallon, people panicked. Many traded in their gas guzzlers for something more compact. Three years later, with hostilities in Libya and the Middle East threatening the petroleum supply chain, prices are again on the rise. So far, motorists are reacting with restraint. According to a survey by MasterCard Spending Pulse, which tracks the volume of gasoline sold at 140,000 gas stations across the nation, people are simply opting to buy less gas. During the first week of April, gas stations reported selling 2.4 million fewer gallons, which reflects a 3.6 percent drop over this time last year. "Based on that survey, I get the sense that people do modify their habits when the price creeps up," said Eric Steltzer, an energy policy analyst for New Hampshire's Office of Energy and Planning. "Historically, once pricing gets to $3.50 and $4 per gallon, consumers start to take some different measures."

50 miles per gallon

For Gary LaBlanc of Pelham, that means riding his Harley-Davidson Ultra everywhere he goes. It gets 50 miles per gallon. "It's the only vehicle I own. I use a company vehicle during the week, but this is all I drive," said LaBlanc, who was filling up his five-gallon tank over the weekend at Klemm's Mobile on the Run in Windham, where unleaded regular was selling for $3.69 per gallon. According to Steltzer, that's slightly higher than the state average, which as of Monday was $3.65 per gallon. And that is still lower than the current national average, which was $3.77 per gallon Monday for the cheap stuff. Tom Jenney of Windham, who was actually filling up his hefty-sized Chevy Silverado truck at the Irving Circle K on Hooksett Road in Hooksett, was paying $3.63 per gallon. His V-6 engine gets about 18 miles per pricey gallon, and he knows he could have gotten the gas cheaper closer to home, but his tank was running dry. "Sure, I've thought about a motorcycle. I used to have one. Now I have a wife and kids," said Jenney. "I mentioned the kids. I have two of them, which means we have four cars. What I am doing is trying to drive less, although since I live in the suburbs, that's not easy to do. I will admit that I drove to the park today just so I could walk, for exercise."

Shopping for best price

Cheryl Avery of Campton was also filling up at the Irving in Hooksett. She said her Jeep Wrangler could get better mileage, but since it's what she's got, she's taken to adjusting her driving habits. "I totally care about the price. I shop around as much as I can, but I don't think this is the cheapest, is it?" Avery said. In fact, it wasn't. Hooksett's cheapest gas was being sold Monday at Mr. Gas on West River Road, where Ben Davis was filling up his car. "I've been waiting for this place to open up, and I saw the sign and noticed the price looked good, so I came in," said Davis, who was satisfied with the $3.56 per gallon he was paying for regular unleaded. Station owner Tony Aoude said he just opened for business on Saturday, and made a point of having the best price in town. "I am hoping to keep the lowest prices I can -- I am going to try," said Aoude. "Definitely my price will stay low. My overhead isn't too high, so I'm going to do my best." According to NewHampshireGasPrices.com, an online crowd-sourcing price guide, the lowest gasoline price in the state Monday was $3.54 at gas stations in Chichester, Londonderry, Hillsboro and Concord. The highest price was logged at $3.87 in Weare. Beyond online resources, many consumers are turning to smartphone apps to check prices while they are on the road, planning their gas stops along the cheapest routes.

Where prices are headed

With no sense of when prices will level out -- or where they will max out -- experts expect consumers will continue on a conservative trend. According to a survey of major gas-station chains around the country, 70 percent said sales were down in March by 3 percent -- the greatest drop in sales since prices went over the $4 mark in 2008, according to the Maryland-based Oil Price Information Service, which publishes a weekly newsletter tracking petroleum prices around the country. Although Steltzer was hesitant to make any predictions about just how high gas prices may go in New Hampshire, he said one good gauge is to see where things were this time last year. "A year ago today the average price of gas was $2.75 per gallon, which represents a 32 percent increase. It's hard to make predictions in a global marketplace. Gas prices were pretty stable right up until October of last year. Since then, it's been a steady increase, with the biggest increase coming in February," Steltzer said. "And some might say there seems to be some connection between that spike, and what's happening in Libya."

While much of the nation’s focus has been on the federal government and the political budget debate, Oregon safety advocates and riders have kept an eye on its own state legislature and a bill that would have offered a choice over mandatory motorcycle helmets. But even as the Federal government found their compromise, Oregon politicians admitted in emails that the motorcycle helmet state legislation was stuck on the side of the political road. Bill 3141 was introduced at a public hearing earlier in April and would have allowed motorcycle riders and their passengers 21 years and older a choice of whether to wear a helmet. Where similar attempts had failed before, the bill’s sponsors felt the political make-up of the Oregon legislature and a unique sunset clause allowing for the law to be reviewed after being effect for eighteen months would be enough to see the bill succeed. Under the proposed law, other riders who choose not to wear a helmet would have to carry $25,000 in personal injury protection in their vehicle insurance policy. Oregon is one of 20 states that require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.  Twenty-seven states have motorcycle helmet laws that only require younger riders to do so, and three others do not have any helmet laws. But apparently the bill became mired in the House Transportation Committee and doesn’t appear to moving forward with needed ‘work sessions’ to allow continued consideration of the legislation. While opponents of the bill haven’t made any public statements, comments from those supporting the legislation felt not enough time or attention was given to those who were in favor of Bill 3141. But as with past sessions of the State government, the bill’s proponents promised to be back next year to try again. “We will be back next year. Perhaps next time we will have the courtesy of being actually listened to,” Mel Yeager of Albany, secretary-treasurer of BikePAC Oregon told the Democrat Herald.

A leading expert on motorcycle safety is continuing its efforts to reach out to other road-users as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation tackles to ongoing problem of distracted drivers. Using the opportunity of backing April's national awareness month to combat this deadly highway hazard, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is strongly urging all motorists to stop driving while distracted. And the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) certainly comes with the authority and expertise drivers should pay attention to. The group promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests and public information programs with its standards recognized worldwide since 1973. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. "Distracted driving is of great concern for motorcyclists as we simply have more at stake," said MSF President Tim Buche. "Riders are obviously more vulnerable than car or truck drivers, the ones with far more access to a variety of distractions. Most motorcyclists are focused on one thing: riding. Other motorists should be focused on driving." The U. S. Department of Transportation's website reports a variety of sobering statistics: In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction (16 percent of the total fatalities). The proportion of fatalities reportedly associated with driver distraction increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009. 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. 18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction. "With these alarming, increasing reports of driver distraction and resulting injuries and deaths, we support every effective effort, including legislation, to fight this growing hazard," Buche said. "We're very pleased that Oprah Winfrey, an influential TV personality with huge national reach, has come out so strongly against distracted driving." Introduced by former U.S. Representative Betsy Markey, the resolution to create a National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 23, 2010. Most states currently have laws regulating distracted driving. The DOT reports that 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. Last year alone, 12 of these laws were enacted. To increase driver awareness, the MSF presents key facts about motorcycles and their riders and has created a website with valuable resources for drivers. 10 Things All Car and Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles and Motorcyclists 1.  There are many more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road and some drivers don’t “recognize” motorcyclists. They ignore them, usually unintentionally. Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection. 2.  A motorcyclist may look farther away than he or she is in actuality. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, estimate that a motorcycle is closer than it looks. 3.  A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside the car. Thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections. 4.  A motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Again, don't immediately rely on your perceptions. 5.  Motorcyclists sometimes slow down by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Don't tailgate motorcyclists. At intersections, anticipate that motorcyclists may slow down without any visual warning. 6.  Turn signals on a motorcycle are not often automatically self-canceling. Some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off. Try to determine whether a motorcycle’s turn signal is for real. And if you’re driving a car, remember to use your turn signals too. They’re a great communication tool for riders and drivers when used properly. 7.  Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily, to avoid road debris, and deal with passing vehicles and wind. Understand that motorcyclists often adjust lane position for a purpose, and it's not an invitation for a car to share the lane with them. 8.  Maneuverability can be one advantage for a motorcycle, but don’t expect that motorcyclist can always steer or swerve out of harm's way. Please leave motorcyclists room on the road, wherever they are around you. 9.  Stopping distance for motorcycles can be nearly the same or better than that of cars. But wet or slippery pavement can put motorcyclists at a disadvantage. Don't violate a motorcyclist's right of way, especially in bad conditions. 10.   Don’t think of it as a motorcycle, a machine: Think of the rider; the person on board is someone's son, daughter, spouse or parent. Unlike other motorists, protected by doors, roofs and airbags, motorcyclists have only their safety gear and are at greater risk from distracted drivers. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, distracted driving contributed to more than 22 percent of all the crashes and near-crashes that were recorded. This research gathered its data from video recorders and instrumentation installed on the vehicles before they were placed back, for months, into everyday traffic. The MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study will soon do the same with motorcycles, for six to 18 months, and will combine unobtrusive, continuous data collection with post-incident interviews. The study will create a comprehensive picture of many factors, possibly including distracted driving, that contribute to both crashes and near-crashes. The MSF, its members, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) are now engaged in this study, likely the world’s first large-scale, naturalistic research on motorcycle riding. "While the solution to ending distracted driving is clear – better, smarter, safer decisions – upcoming research will shed more light on the nature of the problem," Buche said.

A leading expert on motorcycle safety is continuing its efforts to reach out to other road-users as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation tackles to ongoing problem of distracted drivers. Using the opportunity of backing April's national awareness month to combat this deadly highway hazard, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is strongly urging all motorists to stop driving while distracted. And the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) certainly comes with the authority and expertise drivers should pay attention to. The group promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests and public information programs with its standards recognized worldwide since 1973. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. "Distracted driving is of great concern for motorcyclists as we simply have more at stake," said MSF President Tim Buche. "Riders are obviously more vulnerable than car or truck drivers, the ones with far more access to a variety of distractions. Most motorcyclists are focused on one thing: riding. Other motorists should be focused on driving." The U. S. Department of Transportation's website reports a variety of sobering statistics: In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction (16 percent of the total fatalities). The proportion of fatalities reportedly associated with driver distraction increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009. 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. 18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction. "With these alarming, increasing reports of driver distraction and resulting injuries and deaths, we support every effective effort, including legislation, to fight this growing hazard," Buche said. "We're very pleased that Oprah Winfrey, an influential TV personality with huge national reach, has come out so strongly against distracted driving." Introduced by former U.S. Representative Betsy Markey, the resolution to create a National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 23, 2010. Most states currently have laws regulating distracted driving. The DOT reports that 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. Last year alone, 12 of these laws were enacted. To increase driver awareness, the MSF presents key facts about motorcycles and their riders and has created a website with valuable resources for drivers. 10 Things All Car and Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles and Motorcyclists 1.  There are many more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road and some drivers don’t “recognize” motorcyclists. They ignore them, usually unintentionally. Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection. 2.  A motorcyclist may look farther away than he or she is in actuality. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, estimate that a motorcycle is closer than it looks. 3.  A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside the car. Thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections. 4.  A motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Again, don't immediately rely on your perceptions. 5.  Motorcyclists sometimes slow down by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Don't tailgate motorcyclists. At intersections, anticipate that motorcyclists may slow down without any visual warning. 6.  Turn signals on a motorcycle are not often automatically self-canceling. Some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off. Try to determine whether a motorcycle’s turn signal is for real. And if you’re driving a car, remember to use your turn signals too. They’re a great communication tool for riders and drivers when used properly. 7.  Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily, to avoid road debris, and deal with passing vehicles and wind. Understand that motorcyclists often adjust lane position for a purpose, and it's not an invitation for a car to share the lane with them. 8.  Maneuverability can be one advantage for a motorcycle, but don’t expect that motorcyclist can always steer or swerve out of harm's way. Please leave motorcyclists room on the road, wherever they are around you. 9.  Stopping distance for motorcycles can be nearly the same or better than that of cars. But wet or slippery pavement can put motorcyclists at a disadvantage. Don't violate a motorcyclist's right of way, especially in bad conditions. 10.   Don’t think of it as a motorcycle, a machine: Think of the rider; the person on board is someone's son, daughter, spouse or parent. Unlike other motorists, protected by doors, roofs and airbags, motorcyclists have only their safety gear and are at greater risk from distracted drivers. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, distracted driving contributed to more than 22 percent of all the crashes and near-crashes that were recorded. This research gathered its data from video recorders and instrumentation installed on the vehicles before they were placed back, for months, into everyday traffic. The MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study will soon do the same with motorcycles, for six to 18 months, and will combine unobtrusive, continuous data collection with post-incident interviews. The study will create a comprehensive picture of many factors, possibly including distracted driving, that contribute to both crashes and near-crashes. The MSF, its members, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) are now engaged in this study, likely the world’s first large-scale, naturalistic research on motorcycle riding. "While the solution to ending distracted driving is clear – better, smarter, safer decisions – upcoming research will shed more light on the nature of the problem," Buche said.

It was shocking news in 1965 when over 5,000 ‘motorcycle rioters’ tore up a New Hampshire town and fought the National Guard. The date was June 19th, 1965 and the town was Laconia. The motorcycle rally that has drawn an unknown number of bikers to the State of New Hampshire over the next few decades for its race events and later rally would be the scene of a group of riders referred in the news reports as “Hell Angels’ (always in quotes) who circled the town and reportedly refused to let any of the town’s residents out while the supposedly caused havoc. The story is coming to life again through the latest service from Google, offering a searchable look at past news events through scanned newspaper reports. Many caught up in the 1965 event must have thought they were living through the movie ‘The Wild One’ starring Marlon Brando, only released some twelve years earlier. ‘“You’d better get out of here and get out fast– every one of you,” a young family was warned as cars were overturned, buildings set ablaze and National Guardsmen battled with 5,000 rioting motorcycle fans’, wrote the Miami News on June 21^st. No reason is given what encouraged the commotion but many motorcycle historians hint at a changing atmosphere for the event with two state laws enacted in 1965, one allowing police to arrest riders loitering in groups of 3 or more and the other provided for fines up to $1000 and imprisonment up to 3 years for persons who led a disturbance or caused property damage during a riot. According to the Miami News, ‘Commissioner of Safety Robert W. Rhodes said the riot started Saturday night when a California motorcycle club known as “Hells Angels” tipped over a car and threw a ring around the area and would let anyone get away.”’ Nearly 100 people were injured, at least 10 seriously, and damage was estimated into the thousands of dollars. The motorcyclists, many wearing bandanas but otherwise dressed entirely in black shiny leather and their hair in long slicked-down style, crowded into grocery stores earlier buying food and beer. Some 15,000 of them had assembled for the 100 mile national championship road race of the American Motorcyclist Association. The Associated Press noted local resident differed on who and what casued the riots with then owner and operator of the raceway at Louden, where the races were held, stating the riots were caused by 'an irresponsible fringe of motorcycle hangers on.' The Milwaukee Journal wrote that the riot started at 10pm Saturday night ‘coming violently and suddenly’ when a number of leather jacketed youths stopped an automobile as it moved up the street of Lake Winnipesaukee resort. According to the Miami News, 40 people were eventually arrested and left to face the recently enacted laws of large fines and jail time. The New York Times focused the riot on Weirs Beach with 10,000 young men counted in the town located near Laconia, none mentioned as having anything to do with motorcycles.  According to the Times story 150 rioters were arrested ‘on a variety of charges ranging from participating in a riot to breaking and entering and attempted arson’. The following year the Laconia city council passed an ordinance prohibiting drinking in public which stated ‘No person shall drink any alcoholic beverage....on any public street, or public highway, public sidewalk, municipal parking lot, or municipal park within the limits of the City of Laconia.’ A website that details the history of the rally and motorcycle events held in New Hampshire notes the riot and resulting ordinance caused the annual event to slowly decline in the following years. Interstingly, there was a riot in the same area the year before, but with 10,000 college students being the culprits for that disprutive action. Regradless, the riot at the motorcycle event was considered worse because 'These motorcycle addicts were worse. If you could see some of the weapons we took from them,' wrote the Naushua Telegraph.

It’s not unusual for a tide of bills to surge across the nation trying to change mandatory motorcycle helmet laws as State governments settle into their new sessions. Joining the State of Michigan, Oregon legislators are considering a proposal that would only require riders under 21 years of age to wear motorcycle helmet while riding on or operating motorcycle. Under the proposed law, other riders who choose not to wear a helmet would have to carry $25,000 in personal injury protection in their vehicle insurance policy. Oregon is one of 20 states that require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.  Twenty-seven states have motorcycle helmet laws that only require younger riders to do so, and three others do not have any helmet laws. Known as House Bill 3141, the legislation started its road trip with a public hearing earlier this week with the roles of opponents and proponents filled by familiar walks of society and rhetoric.Even the political makeup of the early supporters of the bill falls in a political rut claiming 18 Republicans and two Democrats. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Tim Freeman (R) used what could be considered the default argument over mandatory helmet requirements to justify the introduction of the legislation. “Some helmets limit motorcyclists’ vision and almost all limit their ability to hear,” Freeman said, noting his belief that helmets aren’t always as safe as they are presented to be. Some motorcycle enthusiasts who attended argued for the legislation riding down a well-known road of personal freedoms and a presumed right of choice. “I don’t like the fact that the right to choose has been taken away from U.S. citizens,” Melvin Yaeger, a member of BikePAC, a motorcycle advocacy group told The Register Guard. As in the riding world, there were bikers who opposed the legislation and supported the required use of helmets. “Please don’t let a vocal minority weaken a law that an overwhelming majority of Oregonians believe in and count on to protect the lives of their loved ones and acquaintances,” Steve Walker of Eugene testified. During his testimony, Walker observed that every state that has allowed motorcycle helmets to be optional has seen a dramatic increase in deaths and serious injuries resulting from head trauma. Bringing an authoritative opposition were health officials such as Jim Anderson of the American College of Emergency Physicians, a professional organization. “Everyone is one step away from a medical emergency, and it is our experience that helmets work,” Anderson said. “Motorcycle helmets prevent brain injuries, save lives and result in extensive (medical) cost savings to our system,” said Dr. John Mayberry of the Oregon Medical Association. Some of the sponsors believe the caveat that might help the bill gain support is an allowance for the law to sunset after 18 months, at which point the state Department of Transportation would file a report for the Legislature detailing what effects the change had had. “We hear about costs, about health care and impacts … and yet nobody comes forward with the stats to say this many lives are lost every year,” Representative Greg Matthews said at the hearing, promoting the bill’s ‘reasonable approach’ with its window of opportunity to review the effects of the legislation. Once again we at Krazy Biker Katz must reiterate that in the State of Florida, where there is no mandatory helmet law, 53% of all motorcycle deaths are to riders who WORE helmets. There is no proof that helmets save lives. In fact, riders who DON'T wear helmets seem to ride safer and have been proven to have less fatalities than helmeted riders.

Law enforcement agencies may have found their secret weapon against motorcycle noise and the answer comes on four legs. After ten years of perfecting training techniques, Kanine Kings, a company in Phoenix Arizona that supplies drug-sniffing dogs to law agencies all over the world has announced today it can effectively produce four legged friends that will react to specific loud noises such as those produced by what many call ‘loud pipes’. Motorcycle noise is an ongoing debate with even manufacturers advising riders to keep the levels low if not to prevent any legislation regulating motorcycle but also help the public’s perceptions of bikers. Many legal experts feel with this new furry weapon, the final hurdle of legally implementing legislation targeting motorcycles blasting more decibels than is recommended both federally as well as in different states around the country could be overcome. ”Just as the court system recognizes the legality of searching a suspect when a trained dog detects drugs,” noted legal expert Lawdon Suit, “There isn’t much work to be done to set the bar to allow the same for a dog to alert law officials to suspected loud pipes.” Effectively, any alert given by a trained animal would allow police to conduct an electronic test with reasonable cause. Motorcycle advocacy groups appear to have mixed opinions on the matter with many ABATE chapters prepared to ride to Washington over a perceived infringement on a biker’s rights while the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) is reviewing the matter with its legal counsel. Meanwhile, municipalities around the country have reacted quickly to the news. Many cities such as Myrtle Beach view this as an opportunity to curtail any further attempts to revive the motorcycle rally that grew to become one of the largest in the country. Officials began implementing a variety of laws several years ago to effectively chase the event out of town and some city commissioners have noted this could be the ‘magic bullet’. Other cash strapped cities and towns are eyeing this latest training technique as an opportunity to help with struggling budgets in dire need of balancing. “Depending on the cost of the trained canines this could prove a cost effective method of bringing in much needed revenues,” said a mayor from a small New Hampshire town who asked not to be identified. But the law enforcement agencies may have to what just a little bit longer for the decibel sensitive dogs, the owner of Kanine Kings is looking for some clarification on the legal front. “There are several standards of how much is too much noise when it comes to motorcycle exhaust systems, “ explain Dale Collie, owner of the dog training company, “Once the canine is trained, its embedded for the rest of its life, so we have to make sure we have the correct noise amount to train to.” Collie estimates by the time attorneys establish the correct decibel level and the dogs are trained accordingly, it be twelve months before the first specialized dog is delivered. More information on those hurdles were discussed in an article published last year. “”I don’t foresee any canines trained to detect loud pipes on the streets before April 1^st of next year,” Collie said with a smile, “but then bikers better beware.”

A video has been released of what could be considered the most dangerous intersection in the world and the footage includes no less than fifteen accidents involving motorcycles, scooters and scooter-taxi’s. The public service announcement was released by Chinese authorities in the hope it would promote safe driving. Scooters and smaller engine motorcycles are common forms of transportation and when incidents including them are features, the results are stunning. The 12-minute segment, filmed in the city of Heze in the Shandog province of China, has become viral amassing more than 2 million views and 279 pages of comments on different video sharing websites. The cameras that caught the amazing footage were installed to help authorities manage the troublesome intersection. The compilation and release of the video is another step to help with the traffic problem. ‘We cannot stop traffic accidents from happening, but we will do our best to prevent and reduce the occurrence of accidents,’ officials said with the video’s release, ‘Rise up together all people and all police, and work towards building a safe and peaceful Heze, work towards being able to go home to eat with our loved ones...’ View video here: http://www.clutchandchrome.com/news/news/traffic-camera-multiple-motorcycle-accidents

While bikers may fight among themselves over the rights and wrongs of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, the general public in Michigan as well as the AAA feels the requirement should stay on the books. What concerns AAA Michigan is a bill introduced in Michigan’s State legislature, House Bill 4008 which would allow individuals who are 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical policy in place. Also, Senate Bill 291 would allow individuals 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have had their motorcycle endorsement for two or more years, or passed a motorcycle safety course. Even as Michigan AAA strongly opposes the legislation recently introduced in both the Michigan Senate and the House, they note if either were approved, Michigan's nearly four-decade old mandatory motorcycle helmet law would be repealed. "We strongly oppose both bills," said Jack Peet, AAA Michigan Traffic Safety Manager. "$20,000 in medical coverage would barely touch the amount of medical costs resulting from these types of motorcycle accidents. These proposals will result in increased motorcycle fatalities and injuries and higher costs for all motorists." And it appears the general public agrees with the AAA Michigan. A new spring poll of some 600 likely Michigan voters statewide by Marketing Research Group (MRG), Inc. of Lansing shows that 81 percent of the state's residents believe the current mandatory helmet law should be maintained. Only sixteen percent said Michigan motorcycle riders should not be required to wear a helmet. Surveys of AAA Michigan members over many years also confirm ongoing, overwhelming support for the law. In this year's member survey, 90 percent favored keeping the helmet law while only 10 percent opposed it. Aside from this apparent public support for the law, AAA Michigan are concerned over the efforts made every year to repeal the state's mandatory helmet law. This is done, AAA Michigan has said, ‘without regard for the common good or the will of the public’. An Office of Highway Safety Planning analysis found that a repeal of the law would result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129 million in additional economic costs to citizens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in the three years after Florida's repeal of its mandatory helmet law there was an 81 percent increase in fatalities. Another study found that fatalities grew by more than 50 percent in Kentucky and 100 percent in Louisiana after those states struck down mandatory helmet laws. Those in favor of mandatory helmet laws feel motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of money paid out of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), a fund which is supported by a surcharge on every auto insurance policy in the state.  While motorcyclists represent two percent of the assessment paid into the MCCA, they account for five percent of the money paid out.  They also represent 7.3 percent of all claims reported to the MCCA. Krazy Biker Katz would like to add a statistic supplied by ABATE of Florida. The State of Florida has no mandatory helmet law for anyone over the age of 21 providing they have the proper medical insurance in place. 53% of all motorcycle fatalities in Florida are to motorcyclists wearing helmets. That means 47% of the fatalities were not wearing helmets. This statistic would suggest the possibility that wearing a helmet might give the rider a false sense of security whereby they may take chances they might otherwise not take had they not been wearing a helmet. Not wearing a helmet tends to make the rider more cautious while traversing the highways of the state.

While bikers may fight among themselves over the rights and wrongs of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, the general public in Michigan as well as the AAA feels the requirement should stay on the books. What concerns AAA Michigan is a bill introduced in Michigan’s State legislature, House Bill 4008 which would allow individuals who are 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical policy in place. Also, Senate Bill 291 would allow individuals 21 years of age or older to ride without a helmet if they have had their motorcycle endorsement for two or more years, or passed a motorcycle safety course. Even as Michigan AAA strongly opposes the legislation recently introduced in both the Michigan Senate and the House, they note if either were approved, Michigan's nearly four-decade old mandatory motorcycle helmet law would be repealed. "We strongly oppose both bills," said Jack Peet, AAA Michigan Traffic Safety Manager. "$20,000 in medical coverage would barely touch the amount of medical costs resulting from these types of motorcycle accidents. These proposals will result in increased motorcycle fatalities and injuries and higher costs for all motorists." And it appears the general public agrees with the AAA Michigan. A new spring poll of some 600 likely Michigan voters statewide by Marketing Research Group (MRG), Inc. of Lansing shows that 81 percent of the state's residents believe the current mandatory helmet law should be maintained. Only sixteen percent said Michigan motorcycle riders should not be required to wear a helmet. Surveys of AAA Michigan members over many years also confirm ongoing, overwhelming support for the law. In this year's member survey, 90 percent favored keeping the helmet law while only 10 percent opposed it. Aside from this apparent public support for the law, AAA Michigan are concerned over the efforts made every year to repeal the state's mandatory helmet law. This is done, AAA Michigan has said, ‘without regard for the common good or the will of the public’. An Office of Highway Safety Planning analysis found that a repeal of the law would result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129 million in additional economic costs to citizens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in the three years after Florida's repeal of its mandatory helmet law there was an 81 percent increase in fatalities. Another study found that fatalities grew by more than 50 percent in Kentucky and 100 percent in Louisiana after those states struck down mandatory helmet laws. Those in favor of mandatory helmet laws feel motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of money paid out of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), a fund which is supported by a surcharge on every auto insurance policy in the state.  While motorcyclists represent two percent of the assessment paid into the MCCA, they account for five percent of the money paid out.  They also represent 7.3 percent of all claims reported to the MCCA. Krazy Biker Katz would like to add a statistic supplied by ABATE of Florida. The State of Florida has no mandatory helmet law for anyone over the age of 21 providing they have the proper medical insurance in place. 53% of all motorcycle fatalities in Florida are to motorcyclists wearing helmets. That means 47% of the fatalities were not wearing helmets. This statistic would suggest the possibility that wearing a helmet might give the rider a false sense of security whereby they may take chances they might otherwise not take had they not been wearing a helmet. Not wearing a helmet tends to make the rider more cautious while traversing the highways of the state.