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It seems lately that information in motorcycle publications is brimming with news about safety. New products, rider courses, safety initiatives and the new MSF naturalistic motorcycle riding study using continuous data collection via video recorders and mounted instrumentation on the bike.
Some of the safety related news we hear about stretches the limits of what we consider a true safety program. Let’s compare two examples claiming to be safety oriented.
A real safety program: On March 25-26, 2011, Road Guardians will present the 2nd Annual Biker’s Betterment Conference (BBC). This will take place at the Doubletree O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center, 5460 North River Road, Rosemount, Illinois. What makes this safety conference different is it’s put on by bikers for the motorcycle community. Instead of the traditional approach of safety experts “talking to” attendees about safety measures, this conference has these same experts “talking with” bikers in order to find issues both can agree on to further motorcycle safety. BBC tries to keep the politics of motorcycle rights out of this conference and instead focuses on less controversial subjects that can help save lives. The heavy hitters of safety are invited and the key note speaker is Al Hydeman, Director of Research Design & Development for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. He will be able to enlighten us all on the new MSF naturalistic study soon to start.
Other speakers will talk about impaired and distracted driving, protective riding gear, first response techniques at a crash scene and group riding techniques. Two motorcyclist’s rights advocates are scheduled to speak, but rather than politics, they will be talking about “how to preserve our lifestyle by involvement” and “check twice-save a life” programs and their effectiveness. You won’t want to miss Tony Sanfelipo, Founder of ABATE of Wisconsin and Paul Cote, New England Delegate to the AMA Congress. This is a “real” safety conference with real people discussing real issues. For more information on the conference and how to register, visit www.roadguardians.org/bbc.php
What’s a contrived safety issue? Well for one, there is the Motorcycle Only Checkpoints (MOC) being promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as having safety benefits. States could apply for funds through a grant program to initiate these check points. Georgia received $70,000 to create its version of a MOC and there seems to be a legitimate concern over how these checkpoints will be used with the influx of riders traveling through Georgia on the way to Daytona. Similarly, there is a court challenge in New York State that may eventually end up in the Supreme Court. The question is how do these checkpoints aid in safety? Opponents claim they are nothing more than a way to circumvent laws forbidding vehicle stops without probable cause a crime was committed or about to be committed.
Motorcycle safety involves preventing crashes through education and awareness as well as reducing severity in injury and improving outcomes by proper training of emergency personnel and bystanders. These topics will be covered at the BBC. Illegal infringements on 4th Amendment rights have nothing to do with safety and should be continually monitored by the motorcyclist’s rights community.
Working together, motorcyclists and government and private agencies can solve some of the problems we are facing today. Improved infrastructure with consideration for motorcycles when designing or improving highways is an essential element. Increased education and awareness for all highway users to share the road will result in fewer crashes. Programs like ABATE's Share the Road which teaches school children to respect the rights of motorcyclists will hopefully produce more conscientious drivers in the future. These are positive steps toward a safer tomorrow. Government must realize that unwanted mandated band aid approaches to safety are unacceptable and unproductive. We need real safety measures, not contrived protections.