U.S. motorcycle deaths drop again

Motorcyclist deaths fell last year for the second straight year, but the small drop in fatalities might be masking troubling signs, according to a national highway safety organization.

In analyzing preliminary data from the states, the Governors Highway Safety Association found that motorcyclist deaths dropped 2% last year to about 4,376.

The GHSA cautions that any enthusiasm over the drop must be tempered:

•The decline is much smaller than 2009s 16% drop.

•Last years decline was concentrated in the early months, when fewer bikers were on the road; fatalities dropped only slightly in the second quarter and rose in the third quarter.

•The use of helmets approved by the Department of Transportation dropped 16%.

•Motorcycle ridership is likely to grow as the economy improves.

If the states dont do something, youll see (fatalities) rise again in this year, 2011, says report author James Hedlund, a consultant and former associate administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Meanwhile, a major motorcycle manufacturer is announcing an innovation that could improve safety for some riders: BMW Motorrad USA says it will be the first manufacturer to offer anti-lock brakes on all its motorcycles, beginning with the 2012 model year.

The announcement follows an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study showing that motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes are 37% less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than models without them.

The same kind of emerging improvements that have been made in (cars) can be made in motorcycles, says Barbara Harsha, GHSA executive director. One would expect to see a reduction in fatalities and injuries.

After a decade of increases, motorcyclist deaths fell in 2009. The GHSA recommends that states take measures to prevent the decline in deaths from being merely a two-year blip:

•Increase helmet use, which has been shown to help prevent fatal injuries for motorcycle operators and passengers. In 2008, 42% of fatally injured bikers were not wearing helmets; 30 states do not require helmets for all motorcyclists.

•Reduce impaired driving. In 2009, 29% of motorcyclists killed in crashes had blood-alcohol contents above the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle.

•Reduce speeding, which was a factor in 35% of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2008, compared with 23% for passenger vehicles and 19% for light trucks.

•Provide training to all bikers who need or seek it.