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Group calls for mandatory ABS brakes on motorcycles | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Group calls for mandatory ABS brakes on motorcycles
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Group calls for mandatory ABS brakes on motorcycles
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety called on the federal government to mandate anti-lock brakes on motorcycles.
"The best motorcycle crash is one that never happens," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Traveling on two wheels instead of 4 is always riskier, but our new research shows that anti-lock brake technology can make motorcycle riding a much safer way to get around."
IIHS is funded by the insurance industry and lobbies for safety improvements to reduce crashes.
"The best motorcycle crash is one that never happens," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Traveling on two wheels instead of 4 is always riskier, but our new research shows that anti-lock brake technology can make motorcycle riding a much safer way to get around."
IIHS is funded by the insurance industry and lobbies for safety improvements to reduce crashes.
New studies released in March indicate that anti-locks reduce crashes overall and save lives. Institute researchers compared fatal crash experience of anti-lock-equipped motorcycles against their non-anti-lock counterparts during 2003-08.
Motorcycles with anti-locks versus without are 37 percent less likely to be in fatal crashes.
A separate analysis analyzed insurance claims filed for crash damage to motorcycles. Bike models with anti-locks have 22 percent fewer claims for crash damage. Those studies followed a prior IIHS study that said motorcycles with anti-lock brakes reduced deaths by 28 percent.
Last October, the Federal Highway Administration said it would conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle crashes and deaths on America's roads.
Nearly 5,300 motorcycle riders died in roadway crashes in 2008, representing 14 percent of all deaths, and 96,000 were injured.
Between 1997 and 2008, motorcycle fatalities jumped from 2,116 to 5,290 -- a 150 percent increase, according to the Transportation Department -- and the highest number since NHTSA started collecting motorcycle death statistics in 1975.
In 2008 alone, deaths from motorcycle crashes rose by 2.2 percent while all other vehicle classes saw reductions in fatalities.
The problem isn't just because of more bikes on the roads.
The motorcycle fatality rate has nearly doubled from 21 per million miles traveled in 1997 to 39 in 2007.
NHTSA conducted the last major motorcycle death study, which was completed in 1981.
NHTSA said in July it was considering requiring new safety features on motorcycles. The agency plans to decide by this year whether to require anti-lock brakes on motorcycles.
NHTSA Deputy Administrator Ron Medford said today the agency was studying IIHS's request.
Stopping a motorcycle is harder than stopping a car, typically having separate front and rear wheels brake controls. In an emergency, a rider faces split-second choices about which wheels to brake and how hard.
If the brakes are applied too hard, the wheels can lock and cause an overturn. If the brakes are applied too gently, the rider risks colliding with the obstacle.
In Michigan, motorcycle-related deaths remain a serious problem. Motorcycle road deaths jumped from 6.8 percent of all traffic deaths in 2004 to 13 percent in 2008 -- from 79 deaths in 2004 to 127 in 2008. Motorcycle injuries rose from 2,679 in 2004 to 3,462 last year.
Motorcycles with anti-locks versus without are 37 percent less likely to be in fatal crashes.
A separate analysis analyzed insurance claims filed for crash damage to motorcycles. Bike models with anti-locks have 22 percent fewer claims for crash damage. Those studies followed a prior IIHS study that said motorcycles with anti-lock brakes reduced deaths by 28 percent.
Last October, the Federal Highway Administration said it would conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle crashes and deaths on America's roads.
Nearly 5,300 motorcycle riders died in roadway crashes in 2008, representing 14 percent of all deaths, and 96,000 were injured.
Between 1997 and 2008, motorcycle fatalities jumped from 2,116 to 5,290 -- a 150 percent increase, according to the Transportation Department -- and the highest number since NHTSA started collecting motorcycle death statistics in 1975.
In 2008 alone, deaths from motorcycle crashes rose by 2.2 percent while all other vehicle classes saw reductions in fatalities.
The problem isn't just because of more bikes on the roads.
The motorcycle fatality rate has nearly doubled from 21 per million miles traveled in 1997 to 39 in 2007.
NHTSA conducted the last major motorcycle death study, which was completed in 1981.
NHTSA said in July it was considering requiring new safety features on motorcycles. The agency plans to decide by this year whether to require anti-lock brakes on motorcycles.
NHTSA Deputy Administrator Ron Medford said today the agency was studying IIHS's request.
Stopping a motorcycle is harder than stopping a car, typically having separate front and rear wheels brake controls. In an emergency, a rider faces split-second choices about which wheels to brake and how hard.
If the brakes are applied too hard, the wheels can lock and cause an overturn. If the brakes are applied too gently, the rider risks colliding with the obstacle.
In Michigan, motorcycle-related deaths remain a serious problem. Motorcycle road deaths jumped from 6.8 percent of all traffic deaths in 2004 to 13 percent in 2008 -- from 79 deaths in 2004 to 127 in 2008. Motorcycle injuries rose from 2,679 in 2004 to 3,462 last year.
