Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) today joined with U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, the U.S. Capitol Police, and leaders from the motorcycle industry to kick-off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  They came together to encourage responsible riding and encourage all drivers to safely share the road.  The event included a motorcycle riding simulator, several late model bikes, and the latest protective gear for riding.

With gas prices on the rise and better weather arriving, more Americans will start using their motorcycles for transportation. As ridership increases, so does the risk for everyone traveling on the roads.  Texas has 852,781 licensed motorcyclists. Last year in the Lone Star state preliminary numbers reveal more than 9,100 motorcycle crashes accounted for more than 400 deaths.

“As a doctor, I’ve been in plenty of emergency rooms and trauma centers.  Take it from me: you don’t want to be involved in a crash of any kind, especially one involving a motorcycle,” said Rep. Burgess. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For riders, that means ride responsibly. For everyone else on the road, stay alert and don’t let dangerous distractions divert your attention from the road,” he continued.

More than 23 million Americans will ride a motorcycle this year.  These riders now account for       11 percent of U.S. road fatalities each year and the numbers keep rising.  Experts, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Motorcycle Industry Association, believe training and protective gear are critically important to safe riding.   

“As a biker myself, I know motorcycle safety begins and ends with riders taking personal responsibility. That means proper training, proper gear, and a DOT-certified helmet every time you ride,” Secretary Peters said.

 
Preventing accidents is critical to ensuring safer roads.  Prompt medical attention can also mitigate injuries and save lives.  Currently, there are instances where insurance companies deny certain claims for motorcycle crashes.

“When accidents do happen, people need to receive the proper medical care to treat their injuries.  That’s why I have introduced a bipartisan bill to fix a loophole in the HIPAA law that allows insurers to deny payment for injuries sustained while engaged in recreational activities like motorcycling,” commented Rep. Burgess. 

The motorcycle industry has several public education and awareness programs for car drivers and other motorists. Many of these organizations share public concerns about safe riding.

“I’m happy to see that federal leaders are committed to motorcycle safety and I look forward to continuing to work with them to do our part to make 2008, and each year moving forward, a safer year for motorcyclists,” said Motorcycle Industry Council President Tim Buche.

While significant progress has occurred in reducing fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants, motorcycle fatalities have been rising steadily since 1997, and currently represent our Nation’s greatest highway traffic safety challenge.

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