Dear
Colleague Letter to Conferees
Dear Colleague,
According to recently released data from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motorcycle fatalities
are up for the sixth year in a row. This rise in preventable crashes
coincides with insufficient rider education programs; fortunately
we are presented with an opportunity to reverse this alarming
pattern with the reauthorization of the highway bill. The latest
figures show that there are over 6.6 million motorcycles in use
in the United States. With that number sure to grow each year
we now have a chance to reduce the number of motorcycle related
deaths while the number of riders increases.
We believe the best method of reducing motorcycle
fatalities and injuries is educating riders of all skill levels
on the best practices for safe motorcycle operation. The reauthorization
of the highway bill includes, in the House passed version (HR
3550), language that would assist and encourage individual States
to implement or maintain rider education programs. The National
Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, a study conducted by NHTSA and the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation, set forth recommendations to improve
the current situation of increasing motorcycle related deaths
on our nations highway systems. One of the first recommendations
was to expand access to motorcycle training for all who seek or
need training, which is exactly what HR 3550 does. The language
also calls for a council to advise the Federal Highway Administrator
on motorcycle friendly road and barrier design, another important
part of preventing deaths on our nations highway systems.
Please join us in calling on the conferees to
support the motorcycle safety language in the House passed version
of the Highway Reauthorization bill that will reduce injuries
and prevent fatalities. To sign onto the letter to the conferees
contact Dan Roehl in Congressman Green's office (225-5665) or
Ned Michalek in Congressman Leonard Boswell's office (225-3806).
________________________
Hon. Mark Green
________________________
Hon. Leonard Boswell
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