Editor’s Note: For decades motorcycle rightsgroups were on the defensive, fighting helmet laws, handlebar laws, and noiseregulations. The one caveat to that assumption was motorcycle training efforts,then motorcycle awareness. More and more groups, including FEMA – The EuropeanMotorcyclists’ Federation, have gone offensive todevelop successful safety systems. The outcome is fascinating and should be alesson for our greater society. It’s not all about legislation and regulation.It’s about education, training, and infrastructure. The key elements appear tobe: Training, alcohol use reduction, motorcycle awareness, new motorcyclefriendly guardrails, and improved infrastructure, designed with motorcycles inmind.
Theseelements aren’t sexy or controlling, but they work, and don’t require morerestrictive legislation. Below is a description and the safety goals from ABATEof Florida. We will bring you more info on successful safety measures, as theyland on the Bikernet milk crates.
Welcome to ABATE of Florida, Inc.’s MotorcycleSafety and Awareness Program
ABATE of Florida, Inc. is a state-widenon-profit organization of motorcycle enthusiasts from all walks of life. We promote motorcycle safety awareness,encourage continuing rider training and political awareness. We fund our work through motorcycle relatedactivities. We are neighbors andfriends, who work, pay taxes, serve our country and vote. We believe in freedom. We use all legal means to protect ourrights without infringing on the rights of others.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. acknowledges the growthof motorcyclist of all ages riding in the State of Florida whether it is foreconomic reasons or pleasure. We are dedicated to teach our Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program in ourefforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in our beautiful State of Florida. Our program is a 45 minute presentationincluding two videos to help everyone driving on Florida’s roads become moreaware of motorcyclists. Sharing the road with respect and knowledge is just one of many focuseswe have pertaining to Motorcycle Safety.
If you are planning on visiting or live in ourbeautiful State of Florida whether you choose to ride or drive here are somefacts to keep in mind:
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Obey all traffic laws, signs &signals
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Constantly check and expect to seemotorcycles
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Motorcycles are smaller than cars ortrucks and it can be more difficult to judge their approaching speed
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Look, look, & look again attraffic intersections before you turn or pull out
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Allow a three second “Space Cushion”when following a motorcycle
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There are 7 to 9 blind spots in anaverage vehicle
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Give Motorcycles the same respectand courtesy that you want for yourself and other motorists
For Laws pertaining to riding a motorcycle inthe State of Florida please visit www.hsmv.state.fl.us/handbooks/Motorcycles/intro.html.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. goal is 0 injuries and 0fatalities for the State of Florida.
Plain and simple: WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES
ABATE of Florida, Inc. and your local ABATEchapter offer the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program to any organization orschool free of charge. For more information or to arrange for a presentation,please call the state office 386-943-9610.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. and its’ members havemade a commitment to the motorcyclist of Florida to try and help make riding theroads of Florida less dangerous. For many years they have worked to make animpact by informing the non-riding public about motorcycle awareness and safeways to share the road with motorcycles.
Members of ABATE of Florida, Inc., throughoutthe state, are trained to become instructors in our MSAP program. They thenvisit schools, expos and other organizations spreading motorcycle awareness.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. holds many workshops onMotorcycle Safety. At theseseminars, experts from all over the country speak on Motorcycle Safety. Some ofour presentations in the past have included Two Trauma 1st Responder, ourMotorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, being properly insured, from the Eyesof the Law, and much more.
In 2006, ABATE of Florida, Inc., in cooperationwith the Florida Department of Highways increased their efforts in motorcycleawareness with items such as billboards, public service announcements, posters,an additional Motorcycle Awareness video and various other key items.
We work each year with the Governor to proclaimMay as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month.
With the increase of vehicles on our highways,motorcycle safety has become an even larger concern. Too many motorcyclists arebeing injured or killed due to the negligence of others.
Not only must we educate the non-riding public,we must educate the riding public about the laws of Florida and other states aswell as federal laws so they can be safe wherever they ride. Safety begins the moment you straddle amotorcycle or slip behind the wheel of a car.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. is working diligently tospread the message, “WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES.”
Thefollowing links are provided for those who desire more information concerningMotorcycle Safety and Awareness:
Florida Motorcycle Fatalities Down 24 Percent
By BRAD DICKERSON
Highlands Today
Florida’s weather gives motorcycle enthusiasts virtually 365days every year to take off on the open roads.
Marianne Trussell, chief safety officer for the FloridaDepartment of Transportation, thinks that weather is a big reason the state hasso many bikers.
“You can ride every day and you’ve got the opportunity,and they like to get out there and
ride,” she said.
With all those bikers on the roadways, the chances foraccidents are greater. Fortunately, the
number of Florida motorcycle fatalities dropped 24 percentin 2009 after a decade of steep
increases.
These declines mirror a national trend. In 2009, motorcyclefatalities went down 10 percent nationally after 11 years on the rise. Statesother than Florida also had dramatic decreases:
California went down 29 percent; New York, 16 percent.
In 2009, Highlands County had its lowest number ofmotorcycle deaths in five years. Two people were killed in motorcycle-related accidentslast year, compared to seven in 2008,
according to information from the Florida Department ofHighway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV).
In 2005, the Heartland registered three motorcycle-relatedfatalities, followed by five in 2006 and three in 2007.
“The decrease in motorcycle deaths is a very positivetrend, especially during a large increase in motorcycle traffic,” saidFlorida Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Miller via e-mail. “While the exactreason/reasons is unknown, safety and public awareness campaigns have certainlycontributed.”
As for motorcycle-related injuries in Highlands County,there were 32 in 2009, according to FDHSMV records. That was up significantlyfrom the 21 registered in 2008, but down from the
five-year peak of 43 in 2006.
Getting the word out
In 2009, volunteers from motorcycle clubs, the FDHSMV, lawenforcement and insurance agencies formed a coalition to promote motorcyclesafety, according to Trussell.
“Everybody’s got to look out for everybody,” shesaid.
One of the campaigns they promote is “Look Twice, Savea Life,” an initiative that encourages drivers behind the wheel to checkfor motorcycles.
“The most common fatal crash involving motorcycles is avehicle turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle,” Miller said.”Motorists should always look specifically for motorcycles before enteringthe roadway.”
While it might not be enforced, more and more riders arestarting to understand that helmets are vital when riding a motorcycle,Trussell said.
As it stands, there are no laws in Florida that require arider to wear a helmet. There are laws on the books, however, to make suremotorcycle enthusiasts have a good understanding of how the vehicle worksbefore taking to the road.
FHP Capt. Mark Welch credits legislation implemented in July2008 that requires new motorcycle riders to take a course before being allowedon the roadways with helping to decrease the number fatalities. For riders whodecide to test the limits of the bikes, enhanced penalties may be in order,according to Welch.
Florida statutes pertaining to motorcycles say both wheelsmust stay on the ground, a rule against those who want to “popwheelies,” Welch said. And if a driver is clocked going 50 miles over theposted speed limit, the fine comes out to $1,000.
“That’s for anybody that goes in excess of 50 miles anhour over the posted speed limit,” Welch
said.
July 20, 2010
Mr. Hensley,
My attention has been called to Brad Dickerson’s “CountyMotorcycle Deaths Drop in 2009” article, printed in Highlands Today on 7/19/10.
Although much of the information is correct in the article,it was incorrect in stating there has been a decade of steep increases
in motorcyclists’ deaths in Florida. As a matter of fact, Florida Departmentof Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FL DHSMV) reported no increase ordecrease of deaths in 2007, and a 3.3% decrease in 2008. With almost 700,000 registeredmotorcycles in Florida, every bit of a percentage point representing a decreaseof deaths is important.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. and our over 7,500 members areexcited to hear of the 24.4% decrease in motorcyclists’ deaths reported
in 2009. Thismay very well mean that our partially state-funded Motorcycle Safety andAwareness Program (MSAP) may be showing signs of successful impact. However, we are disappointed byunfounded comment Marianne Trussell stated regarding helmet use.
Ms. Trussell’s printed statement “… more and more riders arestarting to understand that helmets are vital when riding a
motorcycle,” appears to be unfounded, requiring ABATE ofFlorida, Inc. to respectfully disagree with her. We have not seen or heard of any empirically-qualified studytaken place in Florida which suggests the Chief Safety Officer for the Florida
Department of Transportation’s statement is based onfact.
We will not debate the effectiveness of helmet use in ahead-trauma-related motorcycle accident. Although the December 2009 NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Facts Research Note (DOT HS 811 254) states in aquestionable study that helmet use is on the rise nationwide, the NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administration’s report also admits that they estimatehelmets are only “37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycleriders”. Their study, the only oneof its kind, specifically did not stop any motorcyclists to question theirreasons for wearing or not wearing a helmet.
Additionally, the FL DHSMV reports that of all fatalmotorcycle accidents in Florida in 2009, 53.23% of the riders and passengers WEREwearing helmets. Even though weregret any motorcycle-related deaths, the numbers cited here do not lead to anyindication of individual motorcyclists’ thoughts or opinions.
Without an empirical study to base her statement on, wewelcome Ms. Trussell to revise her statement to being one of her own opinion,and not one of the unknown opinion of all motorcyclists in Florida.
Dave “Lockdown” Rich
State PR/Communications Trustee &
State Webmaster, ABATE of Florida, Inc.
(386) 490-4821 (386) 490-4482 fax
cc: Stephanie C. Kopelousos, Florida Secretary ofTransportation
