Motorcycle crashes escalate.For the first time in 20 years, highway fatalities are on the rise. One reason for the increase in overall deaths is a jump in crashes involving motorcyclists. Motorcycle motorcycle, motor vehicle whose design is based on the bicycle. The German inventor Gottlieb Daimler is generally credited with building the first practical motorcycle in 1885. The motorcycle did not become dependable and popular, however, until after 1900. rider fatalities and motorcycle registrations have both been on the rise over the last few years. The rate of increase in fatalities has outpaced the increase in registrations, but not necessarily the rate of miles driven. While fatality rates fa·tal·i·ty rate n. See death rate. fatality rate see case fatality rate. in other areas have been declining over recent years, 2005 was the eighth year in a row that motorcycle fatalities had gone up. They rose from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005--a 13 percent increase. Sixty-five percent of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets in states without universal helmet laws compared to 14 percent in states with universal helmet laws. Helmets can reduce the risk of death by 35 percent to 50 percent. This year, 20 state legislatures A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: Motorcycles have a far higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled when compared with automobiles. According to the US Highway Safety Authority, in 2002 20.9 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 66.7 per 100,000. . A handful considered bills to make changes to current motorcycle helmet A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life. laws. In Michigan Michigan (mĭsh`ĭgən), upper midwestern state of the United States. It consists of two peninsulas thrusting into the Great Lakes and has borders with Ohio and Indiana (S), Wisconsin (W), and the Canadian province of Ontario (N,E). , the Legislature passed a bill that would have repealed the helmet law. The governor, however, vetoed it. California, Maryland California is a census-designated place and community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,307 at the 2000 census. California continues to grow with the spread of population out from the older adjacent community of Lexington Park and the growth in , Mississippi Mississippi, state, United States Mississippi (mĭs'əsĭp`ē), one of the Deep South states of the United States. It is bordered by Alabama (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Arkansas and Louisiana, with most of the border formed by and Virginia also considered legislation to change current helmet laws. The bills in these states would have changed current law to apply only to riders of a certain age. Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. considered legislation that would have applied the helmet law to all riders instead of those 20 and younger.
Motorcyclists Killed
HELMETS CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF DEATH BY UP TO 50 PERCENT
2004 2005
States with Universal Helmet Laws 1,691 1,963
Riders Helmeted 1,439 1,683
Riders Not Helmeted 252 280
States Without Universal Helmet Laws 2,337 2,590
Riders Helmeted 794 919
Riders Not Helmeted 1,543 1,671
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association's National Center
for Statistics & Analysis
Motorcycle Rider Death Rates
DEATHS HAVE OUTPACED THE INCREASE IN REGISTRATIONS, BUT NOT THE RATE OF
MILES DRIVEN
Death Rate 1997 1998 1999
Motorcycle riders killed 2,116 2,294 2,483
Per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled 20.99 22.31 23.46
Per 100,000 registered motorcycles 55.30 59.13 59.80
Death Rate 2000 2001 2002
Motorcycle riders killed 2,897 3,197 3,270
Per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled 27.67 33.17 34.23
Per 100,000 registered motorcycles 66.66 65.20 65.35
Death Rate 2003 2004 2005
Motorcycle riders killed 3,714 4,028 4,553
Per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled 38.78 40.09 na
Per 100,000 registered motorcycles 69.16 69.68 na
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association's National Center
for Statistics & Analysis
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