Is anyone really suprised?
From the ldrider email list:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11 , 2007 SB-07-44
NTSB RECOMMENDS LEGISLATION TO MANDATE ALL MOTORCYCLISTS USE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FMVSS 218-COMPLIANT HELMETS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington, DC-The National Transportation Safety Board today issued
recommendations to states to require all motorcyclists and their passengers
to wear Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(FMVSS) 218-compliant helmets.
Currently, only 20 states, the District of Columbia, and 4 territories have
universal helmet laws requiring all riders to wear a helmet. Twenty-seven
states and 1 territory have partial laws that require minors and/or
passengers to wear such helmets. Three states have no helmet laws.
"The facts are very clear- head injuries are a leading cause of deaths in
motorcycle crashes," said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "The most
important step riders can take in terms of protecting themselves and staying
alive is to wear a DOT- compliant helmet every time they ride."
FMVSS 218-compliant helmets are designed with a hard outer shell, an
impact-attenuating liner, and a retention system to protect the head,
especially the brain, in a variety of impact scenarios.
"Universal helmet laws have proven effective in the mitigation of injuries
and the prevention of fatalities. Implementing these recommendations will
take strong leadership in the States," Rosenker said. "I hope that the
Governors and legislative leaders in the States will act promptly and
decisively to implement the universal helmet laws recommended today by the
Board."
Since 1997, motorcycle fatalities have increased 127 percent. Last year,
4,810 motorcyclists died in crashes, and accounted for more than 10 percent
of all motor vehicle crash fatalities.
Last September, the Safety Board held a public forum and gathered
information on ongoing motorcycle research and initiatives, as well as
countermeasures that may reduce the likelihood of motorcycle accidents and
fatalities. The meeting included participants representing government,
motorcycle manufacturers, motorcyclist associations, state motorcycle rights
organizations, researchers, trauma physicians, law enforcement, and
insurance companies.
As a result of today's meeting, the National Transportation Safety Board
issued the following recommendations:
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Reprioritize the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety recommendations based
on objective criteria, including known safety outcomes.
Following completion of the reprioritization of the National Agenda for
Motorcycle Safety, implement an action plan for states and others, such as
federal agencies, manufacturers, insurance organizations, and advocacy
groups, to carry out those recommendations that are determined to be of high
priority.
To the Federal Highway Administration:
Following the 2007 Motorcycle Travel Symposium, develop guidelines for the
states to use to gather accurate motorcycle registrations and motorcycle
vehicle miles traveled data. The guidelines should include information on
the various methods to collect registrations and vehicle miles traveled data
and how these methods can be put into practice.
To the three states with no motorcycle helmet laws:
Require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding
(operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.
To the 27 states and 1 territory with partial motorcycle helmet laws:
Amend current laws to require that all persons shall wear a Department of
Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant
motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any
motorcycle.
To the 8 states, the District of Columbia, and the 4 territories with
universal motorcycle helmet laws/regulations not specifically requiring
FMVSS 218- compliant helmets:
Amend current laws to specify that all persons shall wear a Department of
Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant
motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any
motorcycle.
To all states:
Provide information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) on the effectiveness of your motorcycle safety efforts to assist
NHTSA with its effort to reprioritize the National Agenda for Motorcycle
Safety recommendations.
Full copies of the recommendation letters will be available in a few days on
the NTSB website,
http://www.ntsb.gov.
NTSB Media Contact: Terry N. Williams
(202) 314-6100
[email protected]=====
See the 9/11/07 NTSB Press Release here:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/091107b.htm
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