By the Staff of Clutch and Chrome
 

Riding isn’t a cheap sport. Certainly a less expensive form of transportation than its more comfortable cousin the car, but definitely isn’t the cheapest past time. The cost isn’t limited to the bike itself with riders easily spending hundreds of dollars on a quality jacket, designer helmet and a pair of boots. The out of pocket expenses for a new biker is considerable and none of this takes into account fixing up that previously owned motorcycle or customizing a new purchase to make it uniquely individual.

That hasn’t slowed the sales of motorcycles though with each year beating the previously set record and the number of registered bikes at over five million. It’s a well publicized fact that the quickest growing group is men forty years and older, some looking to rekindle the passions of their youth while others are finally answering the call of the open road.

But the road isn’t that open. Not only are there more and more motorcycles on the road but also an increase in cars, trucks and probably the most dangerous vehicle to the rider, the ever-popular SUV. Many feel that the SUV’s design not only limits the drivers all around view but impedes a rider’s ability to see ahead in traffic when riding behind one. Its sheer size makes it threatening to any other vehicle on the road but the high body design can be lethal in a collision with a motorcycle.

Along with additional traffic, the highway infrastructure across the country seems to be in a constant state of repair and expansion. Between the increased numbers of vehicles shortening the life of existing roads and authorities frantically expanding the traffic system to relieve growing gridlock, it’s not uncommon to ride through construction zones with altered traffic patterns. Both of these spells danger for the motorcycle as the quality of roads in these areas tend to less than perfect at the different stages of construction creating challenging handling situations for the rider. Studies have found that in single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was a major factor in about two thirds of the cases. It certainly doesn’t help that the motorcycles smaller presence makes it easily overlooked as drivers make their way through coned diversions, focused more on staying in the correct lane rather than noticing other vehicles around them.

The obvious answer
So with the ideal riding conditions rarely being available and the considerable cost accepted as part of taking up riding a motorcycle, shouldn’t a motorcycle safety course be considered as a necessity rather than an afterthought? Why would a new rider spend so much money on designer gear or motorcycle customization, but not invest a fraction of that cost into their own abilities and riding skills?

Availability can’t be used an excuse, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has helped more than 30 state licensing agencies with skill tests as part of their motorcycle endorsement procedures and coordinate safety classes with all states as well as the different branches of the U.S. Military.

The importance and interest in motorcycle safety does vary from state to state. States like Illinois, New York and New Jersey make the classes available at no cost, funding the course through motorcycle registration fees and money collected through traffic violation fines. Others like Louisiana, Idaho and Maine absorb most of the cost through similar funding programs and charge what most consider nominal fees of twenty-five to fifty dollars to the course participants. At the other end of the safety scale, finding information about courses on some state run websites is nearly impossible with motorcycle safety warranting just a paragraph on others.

But even at three hundred dollars, shouldn’t a new or returning rider reason that it’s an acceptable one time cost for what most people acknowledge as a dangerous activity, riding a motorcycle?

The topic of motorcycle safety courses doesn’t have the press time or passion enjoyed by the Helmet Debate, which is odd as one is about preventing death in case of an accident while the other prevents the accident all together.

Since there’s not a similar standard for automobile licensing, it could be that the thought of a further course for what many consider a right rather than a privilege is foreign to the average rider. What’s overlooked, purposefully or not is that an automobile has more weight and bulk, stability from four wheels as well as cushioning and airbags all of which provide protection from impact or rollover. Its windshield and wipers help with better visibility in the rain. A motorcycle has none of these advantages and more risks not found in driving a car, truck or van. These factors are substantiated with 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death, compare to numbers from automobile accidents of 20%

The casual rider shouldn’t look to their limited time in the road as making riding any safer since most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip’s origin.

Other statistics certainly add weight to taking a motorcycle safety course. Various studies found;

• Motorcycles represent approximately 5 percent of all highway fatalities each year even though they only make up 2% of all registered vehicles in the United States.
   

• More than half of the accident-involved riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident involved motorcycle.
   

• 92 percent of motorcyclists involved in crashes were either self taught or trained by family or friends.
   

• Motorcycle riders who are unlicensed or improperly licensed are over-represented in fatal crashes by more that 100% nationally and by as much as 400% in some states.

A recent study into Florida accident statistics showed that there wasn’t one fatality from the riders who had graduated from a motorcycle safety course over the last two years. Reports such as this are making various state officials take notice and look to the real reason for motorcycle accident deaths.

Michigan is considering repealing its helmet law even though the state has fairly steady numbers as far as motorcycle injury accidents are concerned. Law enforcement attributes the accident statistics to motorcyclists riding recklessly or illegally. This is re-enforced by a study conducted by the Michigan Transportation Research Institute that found about forty-four percent of riders involved in a crash between 1997 and 2002 weren’t licensed.

Pennsylvania repealed its helmet law in 2003 and preliminary state statistics demonstrate that their motorcycle deaths have dropped 9% despite a similar percentage rise in registrations. It’s no coincidence they also have a very effective motorcycle safety program.

But with states like Louisiana finding that 80% of all reported motorcycle crashes resulted in the injury or death of the motorcyclist the other arguments of age restrictions and helmets are being put one side as everyone looks to a complete and fair study to be conducted. Industry and rider groups are all looking forward to a planned national crash study – the first of its kind in decades – which they think will show the real reason behind rising motorcycle fatalities.

There are a number of non-profit and private companies as well as state run programs offering motorcycle safety courses and many experienced riders are encouraging new and returning riders to enroll. Discounts on insurance costs and avoiding DMV conducted riding tests are many reasons given for going the route of the safety course. Even the increasing amount of women who are interested in motorcycles are helping with the increasing numbers of safety course graduates, enrolled and encouraged by elated boyfriends and husbands. Proponents of motorcycle safety certification and those who’ve taken the course offer the final rebuttal to anyone arguing against it.

How can it hurt?

Final note - The authors of this article always wear helmets while riding.

Reference Links

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Safety courses available and their cost state by state.
Alaska - $195
Alabama - $200
Arkansas - $200
Arizona - $245
California – $150-$198
Colorado - $185
Connecticut - $165
Delaware - $150
Florida – $180- $300
Georgia - $200
Hawaii - Free
Illinois – Free
Idaho - $25
Iowa - $85 - $115
Indiana - $75 ($25 refundable registration fee)
Kansas - $185
Kentucky - $150
Louisiana - $25
Maine - $50
Maryland - $175
Massachusetts - $249 - $349
Minnesota - $180
Mississippi – Not known
Missouri - $195 to $350
Montana - $135
Nebraska - $65 - $210
New Hampshire - $85
New Jersey – Free
New York – Free
Nevada - $100
North Carolina - $120 - $140
North Dakota - $50
Ohio - $25
Oklahoma - $150
Oregon - $120
Pennsylvania - Free
Rhode Island – Free (mandatory)
South Carolina - $225
South Dakota - $75
Tennessee - $250
Texas - $180
Vermont - $135
Virginia - $100
Washington - $100
West Virginia - $100
Wisconsin - $93 - $195
Wyoming - $15