THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE PASSES HELMET LAW REPEAL, BILL GOES TO GOVERNOR A helmet law repeal bill has passed both houses of Michigan?s state legislature, and proponents are mounting an intense lobbying effort aimed at Governor Jennifer Granholm who vetoed a similar measure last year citing safety concerns.
This year?s version, House Bill 4749, was approved by the Senate by a vote of 23-15, and by the House 69-39, and is similar to a bill passed by both chambers last year but with an opt-out clause designed to allow qualified riders to purchase a permit allowing them to ride without a helmet.
The law would allow riders over 21 to purchase a $100 one-year state permit or a $200 three-year permit. The rider must carry at least $20,000 in insurance to pay first-party medical benefits in the event of an accident, have been licensed for at least two years to operate a motorcycle or have completed a motorcycle safety course. Riders who do not purchase a permit and ride without helmets face a fine of up to $300.
“Modernizing Michigan’s outdated helmet law will bring in much-needed revenue, jobs and investments,” said Jim Rhoades, legislative director of ABATE of Michigan. “We urge the governor to put aside her personal objections to modernizing Michigan’s helmet law.”
ABATE of Michigan and the Confederation of Clubs of Michigan are among the groups that support the bill, arguing that helmets offer little protection and hurt tourism, and pointing out that revenue from the sales of permits would generate an estimated $15-20 million a year for the cash-strapped state.
State Rep. Barbara Farrah, D-Southgate, who sponsored the bill, said 30 other states, including all of Michigan’s neighbors, allow some form of helmet-free riding, giving them an edge over Michigan in attracting tourism dollars from out-of-state motorcyclists.
The governor will have 14 days to sign or veto the bill when it hits her desk, or let it become law without taking any action, but proponents of the legislation intend to further lobby the governor for her support before sending the bill to her office.
Concerned riders are being urged to contact Governor Granholm at (517) 335-7858 and request that she sign HB 4749 into law.
FEDS ANNOUNCE CAMPAIGN TO CURB RIDER FATALITIES To combat the rising trend of motorcycle injuries and fatalities, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters recently announced a comprehensive new federal initiative to improve motorcycle safety with more rider education and training, tougher standards for helmet certification labeling, law enforcement training, and road designs that consider motorcycle dynamics.
Secretary Peters ? an avid motorcyclist herself ? also released a television public service announcement promoting rider safety and use of personal protective gear, referring to her own crash on a two-lane highway near Tucson in 2005 when she suffered a broken collarbone.
Peters said the motorcycle safety initiative will create new national safety and training standards for novice riders, curb counterfeit helmet labeling so that consumers can be certain they are buying DOT-certified helmets, place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements, and provide training to law enforcement officers on how to spot unsafe motorcyclists. In addition, Peters said, the plan includes a broad public awareness campaign ? including the PSA – on safe riding techniques.
NHTSA TO EVALUATE STATE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAMS The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced plans to conduct a survey of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators and/or State Highway Safety Offices in all 50 States and the District of Columbia to gather data on state-level motorcycle safety programs.
The study will use the State Motorcycle Safety Administrator and State Highway Safety Office survey to gather comprehensive data on what each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia are doing to promote and ensure safe riding behavior.
HONDA BAGS SAFETY AWARD Honda engineers were honored for their contributions to the development of vehicle safety systems at the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles held earlier this year in Lyon, France.
Honda development engineer Satoshi Iijima was recognized at the safety conference for his research into motorcycle crash safety and the development of new devices, including the first motorcycle airbag system. His team began their research into motorcycle airbags in 1990, and Honda’s flagship tourer, the GL1800 Gold Wing, in 2006 became the first production model to be equipped with this airbag system.
The conference is one of the leading forums attended by researchers, engineers and government officials at which vehicle safety is discussed. Other topics discussed at this year’s event included lighting systems for improved motorcycle visibility.
SURVEY FINDS MAJORITY OF MOTORCYCLE OWNERS AT HIGH RISK FOR THEFT Motorcycle theft rates are at their highest levels nationwide, and continue on the rise. According to the most recent figures by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), 71,523 motorcycles were stolen in 2006, and motorcycle theft has risen a full 137 percent since the year 2000.
LoJack Corporation in cooperation with the NICB conducted an online ?Fitness Test? geared to gauge the risk of theft for motorcycle enthusiasts, and found that a full 67 percent of motorcycle owners who responded to the survey are at a high risk for theft.
The 10-question Motorcycle Theft Prevention Fitness Test conducted over the summer revealed that the majority of the respondents were at a high risk for theft because they are not taking necessary precautions, such as securing their bike to an immovable object when parked in a lot or garage, and arming their bikes with theft deterrents (alarms, kill switches, etc.) and recovery systems. Respondents did score well, however, when it came to applying good common sense theft protection measures, such as parking in a concealed area at home, parking in a well lit area in a garage/parking lot, and never leaving keys on the their parked bike.
“As this survey showed, motorcycle owners need to step up their theft protection measures in order to keep their bikes safe,” said Patrick Clancy, Vice President of Law Enforcement, LoJack Corporation. “Unfortunately, using good common sense is not enough to protect bikes from today’s clever thieves, who typically know just which bikes they want and how to steal them.?
LoJack and NICB have developed a booklet entitled “Get in the Know” that details the steps owners can take to protect their motorcycles from being stolen. The two nationally recognized authorities on vehicle theft and prevention have also launched a joint education initiative called the Vehicle Theft Protection Program to help owners protect their assets from theft, and began their campaign by designating July, the highest vehicle theft month of the year, as National Vehicle Theft Protection Month.
PRINCE CHARLES RESCUES CRASHED BIKER British royal Prince Charles has been praised for stopping to help a motorcyclist who plunged 15 feet off a mountain road in Scotland. The Prince of Wales was en route to his private retreat in Scotland when he witnessed motorcyclist Hugh Simpson skid on gravel and drive off a steep bank.
The Prince immediately stopped his Land Rover and instructed his bodyguards, who are all trained first-aiders, to help Simpson who sustained a broken wrist and foot.
Simpson, 52, says, “I cannot thank Prince Charles enough. He asked his protection officers to come to my assistance. They were very good.”
CHINA SOUTH DECLARED WORLD?S LARGEST MOTORCYCLE MAKER According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, China’s state-owned automotive company China South has emerged as the world’s largest motorcycle producer with an annual production capacity of five million units.
The company’s products are sold in over 100 countries under the brands Jialing, Jianshe, Dayang and Jinan Qingqi. China South is a state-owned enterprise under the management of the ?state council of the Chinese cabinet? and is involved in the military and national defense industries. According to the report, the assets and sales of China South are in excess of $12.66 billion.
China expects to make 21 million two wheelers a year by 2010, up from 17 million in 2005, while the world?s second largest motorcycle market in India expects to produce 15 million motorbikes a year in 2010, up from 6.7 million in 2005. By comparison, Americans own around 7 million motorcycles and buy just over 1 million new bikes per year. American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson produced about 350,000 motorcycles last year.
VIETNAM TO IMPLEMENT HELMET LAW Vietnam has one of the world’s highest traffic fatality rates, with 14,000 deaths recorded last year ? most involving the ubiquitous motorbike, which constitutes over 90% of the vehicles in this country of 85 million people who own one million cars but upwards of 20 million motorbikes, and only 3% wear helmets.
The roads are also some of the most hazardous on earth. Few drivers look before pulling into traffic. Speeding, weaving, underage driving and drunken driving are common. Vietnam’s traffic fatality rate is about 27 per 100,000 ? nearly double that of the United States and among the highest in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Few people bother with helmets, saying they are hot, bulky and unfashionable. But by January 1, everyone will be required to don the so-called ?rice cookers? as the government enforces a new law intended to save lives.
But enforcement won?t be easy. When Vietnam tried to impose a helmet law in 2001, angry riders protested and the government backed down after the law was deemed unenforceable. Instead, the law made helmets compulsory only on highways, though many still ignore the law with fines the equivalent of $1.25 levied against violators. Government officials are discussing whether to raise the fine when the new law kicks in.
Officials have even resorted to airing graphic television commercials to promote compliance with the law, but the images of dead and dying motorcyclists does little to convince most motorbike commuters in Hanoi, who say they will only abide this time if forced. ?Wearing helmets in cities is ridiculous,? said Nguyen Tung Anh, 21, a student in Hanoi. ?It will reduce drivers’ vision, hearing and it is not suitable for the weather conditions here.?
The effort to force riders to strap on helmets is being bolstered by a WHO-supported project that will channel $860,000 into Vietnam for prevention programs focusing in part on increasing the use of motorcycle helmets. The WHO project is part of a two-year, $9 million grant made by the Bloomberg Family Foundation in 2007 to implement measures to reduce traffic deaths and injuries in countries around the world. Prevention programs will be piloted in Mexico and Vietnam, with a focus on increasing the use of motorcycle helmets, seat-belts and child restraints; reducing drink-driving; and improving the visibility of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: MALAYSIAN MOTORCYCLIST KILLED BY LIGHTNING WHILE TALKING ON CELL PHONE A Malaysian man who was talking on a mobile phone while riding his motorcycle was killed when struck by a bolt of lightning, according to news reports from Kuala Lumpur.
The man, 39, was believed to have lodged the phone between his ear and helmet and was speaking on the phone when the lightning struck. Passersby said he was thrown from the motorcycle after being struck by the bolt, the New Straits Times daily reported.
The victim was immediately sent to a nearby hospital in the southern Seremban city, but was pronounced dead on arrival, a police spokesman was quoted as saying. Police are investigating the accident.
NCOM CONVENTION The 23rd annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother?s Day weekend, May 8-11, 2008 at the Sheraton North Houston – George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located at 15700 JFK Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77032. This is expected to be the largest NCOM Convention ever, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $79.00 by calling (281) 442-5100. Airport/Hotel transportation is provided 24 hours.
Hosted by ABATE of Texas, the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II) and the Texas Confederations of Clubs, this annual gathering will draw nearly two thousand motorcyclists rights leaders from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all riders. Meetings, seminars and group discussions focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.
Registration fees for the Convention are $75 including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention only. All motorcyclists welcome. To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
The National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MRO’s, motorcycle clubs, and riding associations submit the names of those members and supporters who have died since May 2007, so that we may honor their memories during the traditional ?Ringing of the Bell? tribute to fallen riders during the opening ceremonies. Dedications can be e-mailed to NCOMBish@aol.com.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring an item for the Freedom Fund Auction, with proceeds benefiting the motorcyclists rights movement nationwide through Getting Our People Elected donations, Speaker Program, lobbying activities and other projects as determined by the NCOM Board of Directors.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: ?Morality cannot be legislated but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.?
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black (1886-1971)
