Report from MotM: A Failed Safety Paradigm
Let’s start with two statements that I think we can all agree on:
1. Helmets would not be an issue if motorcycles did not get in crashes.
2. It is crashes, not the failure to wear a helmet, that kills motorcyclists.
Speaking Friday at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation‘s Meeting of the Minds here in Denver, “Doc Ski” Wasileski, Ph.D., addressed the issue of rider safety in a talk titled “A Failed Safety Paradigm.” And the point Doc Ski made can be summed up as such: “If you get in a bad enough crash, you’re gonna die. Crashes kill bikers. Crash prevention saves lives.”
Doc Ski argued that ever since the Hurt Report, “Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,” the government agencies involved in transportation safety have followed the approach of working for crash mitigation. That is, safer crashes. In cars that means seat belts and air bags and other clearly effective means. When it comes to motorcycles, however, the idea of safer crashes does not work as well. As Doc Ski said, you will die if you get in a bad enough accident, regardless of whether you’re wearing a helmet.
Thus the failed paradigm. Doc Ski, who serves as the MRF’s resident statistician, quoted his own studies that show no statistical difference in fatality rates between states with mandatory helmet laws and states with no helmet laws. And he echoed the MRF’s position that rider training, motorist share-the-road training, and impaired riding programs are what lower fatality rates, not stricter protective requirements and vehicle design modifications.
Nevertheless, as many speakers stated repeatedly over the course of the conference, stricter regulation is coming. The form that that regulation takes will be determined at least in part by how effectively the motorcycling community’s voice is heard. One purpose of the Meeting of the Minds is to ensure that that voice is heard, and effectively.
Issues the MRF is expecting to address in the near future include mandatory rider education, graduated licensing, and restricted access for motorcycles on some roadways.
Be grateful that someone is out there fighting for your rights. Consider joining them in the effort. You’ve got nothing to lose but your rights.
Biker Quote for Today
We want to be free to ride our machines without being hassled by the man. — Peter Fonda, The Wild Angels, 1966
September 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
HI Ken,
I thank you for your efforts on reporting and researching all of these very important happenings. I know first hand working together can be of benefit for all who ride. Several years back the “save me from myself†people at the state house tried to put helmets on us here in Iowa. ABATE and the AMA fought hard lobbying the state house along with many “average†people like me made an effort to write letters and call our leaders. You know what surprised me the most about this. Every single person I contacted got back in touch with me, every single one of them! They wanted to know about figures I gave them, where I had found them (pre internet) and what my thoughts on the bill was. I was so surprised to find out that they just didn’t know these things and were very happy that I had taken the time to help educate them.
So if there is anyone out there that doesn’t think you make a difference or that you don’t count you are so wrong.
Our governor at the time vetoed the bill. While he vetoed for reasons other then freedom of choice he did veto it. It was a very hot topic in the state at the time so he risked a great deal in doing so. He went on to get re-elected for several more terms before he called it quits.
fasthair
September 29th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Ken,
Tonite while researching something entirely different, I came across the URL for your blogsite.
I want to thank you for posting the information. I will add that Doc Ski and I work together here in NC as he is the NC SMRO Legislative Director. The statistics he uses often come from the same federal bureaucracies that are trying to deny their own results! Some of Ski’s graphs and stats came from NHTSA published studies. Imagine!
Thanks so much for promoting membership within the MRF. What Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, our president, stated is entirely correct… basically we need members in order to keep doing the job we are doing at the functioning level that has proved effective. Times are tough and tight for everyone and we know it. It is what it is.
Again, thank you, and I will put your site in my favorites so I can keep up with what you are doing, or subscribe.
best,
Cindy “Fre” Hodges
MRF Member Rep to the Board