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March 17, 2007
MOTORCYCLE DEATH “SURGES” REPORTED IN TWO STATES
The Kansas City Star, under the headline “Motorcycle deaths surge in Missouri and Kansas", reports that, “Even as overall highway fatalities decline in Missouri, the state is approaching a record number of motorcycle deaths… the final (2006) number in Missouri is expected to be the most in 30 years, beating the previous high of 89 motorcycle deaths set in 2003. Kansas, too, saw a big increase of motorcycle deaths last year. Through October, the state had 59 fatalities, more than any year back to 1995.
“Traffic safety advocates call it a huge problem that the entire country faces as motorcycle ownership surges,” the Star said in its detailed report. Lack of helmet use by some cyclists appears to be part of the problem, and use of “novelty” helmets reportedly is another. A Missouri task force assigned to look at the problem “wants to crack down on riders who wear so-called novelty helmets that look flashy but might not protect your head,” the paper said. It added: “Many say the growing number of deaths seems to correspond with the increasing popularity of motorcycles, spurred by baby boomers getting back on the bike. About 147,000 motorcycles were registered in Kansas and Missouri in 2005, up about a third since 2000. At the same time, motorcycle deaths in the two states have climbed about 80 percent.
Meanwhile, Consumer Affairs reported that the DOT secretary wants to make safety helmets standard equipment for motorcyclists. She is “is calling on manufacturers to provide free or heavily discounted DOT-certified helmets or driver safety training with the purchase of every new motorcycle sold in the United States,” it said.
Posted by MVHAP at March 17, 2007 02:10 PM