NHTSA / TEA / Motorcycle Safety

Note: NHTSA has an interesting State Legislature Online Database providing information on issues by state and also by issue type. You can access the NHTSA database here

According to recent crash data motorcycle fatalities are at a seven-year high. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compiles the data given to them from the individual states and then releases the compilation to the general public. Many argue with NHTSA about the validity of the numbers because some states haven’t reported motorcycle data for the past five years. The fact remains that fatalities are up how far up should not matter. NHTSA places most of the reason for the hike on equipment mandates and their idea of crashing safer.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has a different solution to ending the senseless deaths of motorcyclists. Education. Educating individual riders on how to operate a motorcycle properly and how to behave in the traffic mix as well educating the general motoring population to look for motorcycles and how to drive around motorcycles will result in drop in nationwide motorcycle fatality rates. According to the Hurt report, the last comprehensive study on motorcycle crashes; over 90% of all motorcycle fatalities studied were of un-educated or self-educated riders. It only makes sense to put more resources into education and crash avoidance than to equip riders to simply crash safely.

To that end the Motorcycle Riders Foundation in conjunction with many State Motorcycle Rights Organizations (SMROs) and individual motorcyclists worked with the Congress to provide for some motorcycle provisions in the latest Highway reauthorization, HR 3. HR 3 known as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

The provisions that MRF worked for are two-pronged attempt to reduce the number of motorcyclists that die on the road each year. A grant program has been set up to provide $25 million dollars in federal dollars to be set aside for motorcycle rider educations and public awareness campaigns to look for motorcyclists. Further funding for these types of initiatives on the state level will save lives. Secondly, the language calls for the formation of an advisory council that will advise the Federal Highway Administrator on road, bridge and barrier design and how those items take into account the small signature of motorcycles. More often than not motorcycle are an after thought when traffic engineers design our nations highway systems. The MRF is hoping to correct that school of thought. Motorcycles may be only 2% of the vehicles on the road, but they deserve 100% of safety attention that other vehicles have.

The current funding that begins January of 2006 and runs through 2009 will then need to be reauthorized yet again for the next six years. The MRF will continue to improve the safety landscape in any way possible and preserve as many freedoms as possible.

Join the MRF, and we can work together to promote safer riding instead of "safer crashing!"

The following is a listing of information on the MRF website concerning NHTSA, Motorcycle Safety and the continued reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act:

07/19/06 - Motorcycle Safety Grant Final Rule: This final rule implements the Motorcyclist Safety grant program authorized under section 2010 of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.

03/08/06 - MRF Position Letter on Highway Safety Guideines: The letter sent from the MRF to Secretary Norman Mineta outlining the MRF position on the proposed amendments to highway safety guidelines concerning motorcycle safety.

11/10/05 - Summary of the SAFETEA-LU Grant Program: This is a one page brief on the nuts and bolts of the grant program in SAFETEA-LU.

07/13/05 - NHTSA Response to the May letter the MRF sent NHTSA regarding the FARS data: NHTSA's response to the MRF questions about the Vehicle Miles of Travel and registration data.

06/16/05 - NHTSA Responds to MRF letters regarding the FARS data: NHTSA's response to several issues, and letters from the MRF arrived in the DC Office today. Take note there is no date on this letter and a reference to "On May 23, NHTSA is hosting". Not "On May 23rd NHTSA hosted". (PDF - 2MB)

05/05/05 - MRF Letter to Dr. Runge concerning the FARS data: Letter requesting Dr. Runge to validate the FARS data.

04/21/05 - Don Young Letter to Dr. Runge: Letter formally requesting results for the "Promising Practices in Motorcycle Rider Education and Licensing" report.

11/23/04 - MSF Statement on CA. based Motorcycle Training Center: Letter describing the MSF intent on the Motorcycle Training Center Site Administrator Agreement.

11/23/04 - MSF letter regarding the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program: Letter describing the MSF position and its involvement in the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program.

11/23/04 - MRF Position on Rider Education: Official text describing the MRF position on Rider Education.

11/23/04 - MSF Questions Submitted to the MRF: The questions submitted by the MSF Board of Trustees to the MRF. (3 MB)

09/03/04 - Dear Colleague Letter: Text of "dear colleague" that will circulate the entire House of Representatives

09/03/04 - TEA Conference Letter: Text of the letter to the conferees of the highway bill

07/23/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR33: Congress Passes Fifth TEA Extension; August Recess Begins

07/15/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR32: TEAM OREGON Curriculum Approved; MSF Alleges Infringement

06/24/04 - MRF Leaders' Report: TEA Conference Committee; TEA Extension Passes Unanimously; Independence Day Recess Period

06/04/04 - Conference Committee Members for the Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA)

06/03/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR28: U.S. House Names Highway Bill Conferees

05/21/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR26: U.S. Senate Names Highway Bill Conferees

05/21/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR25: MRF Learns That TEA Conference Committee Is Being Formed

05/20/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR24: MRF Urges You To Make The Most of The Upcoming Congressional Recess!

05/18/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR23: MRF Explores Formation of Independent National Motorcycle Safety Policy Council

04/29/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR21: U.S. Senate Designates May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, House Bill Introduced

04/26/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR20: MRF Learns of Another Proposed TEA Extension

04/22/04 - MRF Leaders' Report: ABATE of Illinois Comes to DC Again

04/08/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR19: MRF To Attend International Conference

04/02/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR18: House Overwhelmingly Passes TEA LU!

03/30/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR17: URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Contact Your Congressman About TEA LU!

03/26/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR16: MRF Makes Motorcycle Safety History!

03/24/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR15: MRF Motorcycle Safety Initiatives in House Transportation Bill

03/23/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR13: MRF Attends MSF Board Meeting

03/22/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR12: CALL TO ACTION: House TEA Markup Scheduled for Wednesday

03/21/04 - E-Mail Links for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Members

03/17/04 - MRF Proposal to MSF Board of Trustees Presented at March 17, 2004 Meeting

03/02/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR08: TEA Extended for Sixty Days

02/16/04 - MRF Leaders' Report: S.R. 168 for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month; MRF Invited to Attend MSF Board Meeting

02/12/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR07: Congress Passes TEA, House Postpones

02/10/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR06: MRF Update on TEA Legislation

01/20/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR03: MRF Remains Committed to Motorcycle Safety

01/15/04 - Murkowski Amendment to Protect Motorcyclist Safety

01/05/04 - MRF E-Mail Alert #04NR01: MSF Supports Murkowski Motorcycle Safety Amendment

12/22/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR44: Motorcycle Safety Foundation Attacks Motorcycle Safety Initiative

12/22/03 - Postcard Campaign to Combat the MSF's Attack on Murkowski Motorcycle Safety Initiative

12/11/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR43: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell Writes Letter of Concern to NHTSA

12/10/03 - Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell's Letter of Concern to NHTSA

12/02/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR41: Anti-Motorcycling Outfit Demands No Freedom . . . And No Safety!

11/26/03 - The Murkowski Amendment Makes Motorcycle Safety History - A Rebuttal of Claims Made November 11, 2003 by "Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety"

11/10/03 - MRF Leaders' Report: Call Your Senator - Again!

11/07/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR39: NHTSA Study Demonstrates Need for Safer Riding, Not Safer Crashing

11/06/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR38: Urgent MRF Call to Action - Make Two Phone Calls Today for Motorcycle Safety!

10/28/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR36: Your Congressman Has Two More Days to Help Make Motorcycle Safety History!

10/16/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR35: MRF Publishes Initial Observations Regarding NHTSA Letter on U.N. Venture

10/16/03 - MRF's Initial Observations Regarding Letter from Rose McMurray, NHTSA Associate Administrator

10/16/03 - NHTSA's Rose McMurray's Response to MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR33

10/15/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR34: NHTSA Awards Contract in Advance of White House Approval

10/12/03 - MRF Leaders' Report: Bikers Should Praise and Push!

09/30/03 - NHTSA Proposal to United Nations for Future Work in Improving Motorcycle Safety

09/26/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR33: MRF Call to Action: NHTSA Pushes for United Nations Acceptance of Mandatory Rider Apparel

09/16/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR32: MRF Conference Simulcast on INBRadio

08/07/03 - MRF Leaders' Report: Make Motorcycle Safety History - Now!....., How much TEA do we want?

07/25/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR24: Urgent MRF call to action - Making motorcycle safety history!

07/25/03 - Letter Regarding Motorcycle Safety from Congressmen DeFazio and LaTourette

07/23/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR18: Cast Your Vote on NHTSA Rider Interview Study

06/20/03 - MRF's Public Comments Regarding NHTSA's Proposed Study of Rider Characteristics

05/18/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR16: NHTSA Proposes Study of Characteristics of Motorcycle Operators

04/29/03 - NHTSA Research Proposal for "Characteristics of Motorcycle Operators" reproduced from Federal Register/Vol. 68, No. 82/Tuesday April 29, 2003/Notices, pages 22769-22770

02/07/03 - MRF Leaders' Report: Rider Fatalities Big News at Major DC Meeting, TEA-21 The Battle Royale

02/03/03 - MRF E-Mail Alert #03NR03: NHTSA's New Motorcycle Safety Program is Leaning, Not Leaping, In the Right Direction

09/26/02 - Live Broadcast: MRF's Meeting of the Minds Conference 2002, NHTSA discussed during "General Session" and "Panel Discussion"

08/06/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR19: Budget Cuts Result in Increased Motorcycle Fatalities

07/29/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR18: MRF Granted NGO Status by United Nations

07/25/02 - Congressional Testimony: The MRF's Prepared Oral Remarks Presented by Tom Wyld, MRF VP-Government Relations on July 25, 2002 for the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives

07/12/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Motorcyclists Prevail: No Federal Clothing Control

05/25/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Key Visits

05/23/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Colorado Invades Washington

05/16/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Pennsylvania Lobbies Congress

05/01/02 - MRF TEA-03 Initiative #1: Strengthen the prohibition against use of appropriated funds by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to influence state and local legislation

05/01/02 - MRF TEA-03 Initiative #2: Establish a Motorcyclist Advisory Council in the Immediate Office of the Administrator, Federal Highway Administration

05/01/02 - MRF TEA-03 Initiative #3: Enhance motorcycle safety for the betterment of all road users

05/01/02 - MRF TEA-03 Initiative #4: Better integration of the motorcycle into national and state transport planning and development

04/23/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR14: NHTSA Releases Preliminary 2001 Motorcycle Fatality Statistics

04/16/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: North Carolina Test-Rides MRF TEA-21 Reauthorization Agenda

04/03/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Three SMROs in One Week

04/01/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR13: TEA-21 Reauthorization Agenda

03/14/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: First Salvos Exchanged

03/06/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR11: URGENT: ACT NOW TO STOP NHTSA!

03/01/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Lifting the Lid on NHTSA Lobbying?

02/15/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Threads Fray on NHTSA Clothing Control Bid

02/13/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Sharp As A Knife

02/04/02 - MRF Comments to NHTSA on the Inclusion of Retro-reflective Rider Apparel in the TREAD Act

01/31/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR06: Follow up - Fight NHTSA's bid for clothing control!

01/31/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Feds Control Threads?

01/26/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR04: Urgent, Fight NHTSA's bid for clothing control!

01/22/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR02: Motorcycle Safety Improvement Plan on Hold

01/18/02 - MRF Leaders' Report: Ohio's Got What Kinda Law?

01/10/02 - MRF E-Mail Alert #02NR01: Motorcyclists Sharply Critical of IIHS's Fatalities Study

11/14/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR33: Saving Street Bikes - Major MRF Call to Action!

09/27/01 - Live Broadcast: MRF's Meeting of the Minds Conference 2001, NHTSA discussed during "General Session" and "Riding Through Regulation"

09/01 - MRF White Papers: Training Medical Personnel

08/17/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR26: MRF Comments on NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Plan

08/08/01 - MRF Public Comment - NHTSA Draft Motorcycle Safety Improvement Plan (McSIP)

08/02/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR24: New NHTSA Chief Faces U.S. Senate Tomorrow - Act Now!

07/03/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR23: NHTSA Report on Fatalities - A Gloomy Picture - Or is it?

06/29/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR22: NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Plan Requires Your Action

06/25/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR21: White House Announces NHTSA Administrator Decision

06/08/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR20: Insurance Advocates Slam Educations As Risky

05/22/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR18: Rescue Motorcycle Safety Following NHTSA/NBC News Attack!

05/03/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR16: MRF Attends National Conference

04/10/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01-15: NHTSA Leadership Appointment

04/07/01 - Live Broadcast: MRF's BEST of the West Conference 2001, NHTSA discussed during "General Session" and "Is Your Ride for Freedom or Is My Ride Finished?"

04/03/01 - MRF Leaders Report: Motorcycle Riders From Illinois Take Pro-Safety, Pro-Freedom Agenda To Congress . . . And The White House

02/16/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR05: CHP Commissioner Maurice Hannigan Recommended to Head NHTSA

01/12/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert #01NR01: Motorcycling Champions Lead New Congress

01/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert: NAMS at the Print Shop!

01/01 - MRF E-Mail Alert: NAMS: Brilliant Product, Bewildering Priorities

09/21/00 - Live Broadcast: MRF's Meeting of the Minds Conference 2000, NHTSA discussed during "Panel Discussion on Global Harmonization," "National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety," "The Role of State Legislators in the Global World" and "Working Together in Global Issues - Can The Rider's Voice Be Heard?"

09/00 - MRF White Papers: Without Helmet Laws, Who Pays? by Steve Zimmer

09/00 - MRF White Papers: Safety Nets: More on the Social Burden Fallacy, by Steve Zimmer

09/00 - MRF E-Mail Alert: State Motorcycle Safety Administrators Meet

08/00 - MRF E-Mail Alert: New NHTSA head

04/00 - MRF E-Mail Alert: A Little Help

03/00 - MRF E-Mail Alert: To Open or not to Open?

01/00 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MSF Helmet Law Propaganda Shows Up In State Senate Hearing

10/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Senator Smith Named New Chairman of Environment and Public Works Committee

09/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Ricardo Martinez Leaves Administrator Post At NHTSA

09/99 - MRF White Papers: Importance of Government Relations Objectives to the Association, by Wayne Curtin

09/99 - MRF White Papers: Understanding Global Harmonization of Motorcycle Manufacturing Standards, by Mark Buckner

09/99 - MRF White Papers: Do they still make sidecars? by David Hough

09/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF Saves Three Wheel Motorcycle Issue For The National Agenda

06/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Rider Education Program Created in Oklahoma

05/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Congressional Inquiry sent to DOT Secretary Rodney Slater

01/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF Board of Directors Meets in Denver

01/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF Responds to Pro-Helmet Law Lobbying

01/99 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Sen. Campbell Appointed to Trans Appropriations Subcommittee

11/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: NHTSA Releases Helmet Law Video

09/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF Comments On Daytime Running Lights

09/98 - MRF White Papers: Safe America, by Ros Burns

08/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF to participate in National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety

07/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Campbell wins in Colorado primary

06/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: President Clinton Signs TEA 21

05/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Victory in Congress - Highway bill passes and sent to President

04/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: House passes HR 2961 - Seeks to end NHTSA lobbying of States

04/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Congressman Shimkus Seeks Support for NHTSA Lobby Ban

01/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF Board of Directors Meets in Indianapolis

01/98 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Full text of DOT's call for comments

11/97 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Stopping NHTSA's Lobbying

09/97 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Information about the 1997 highway bills

08/97 - MRF E-Mail Alert: More information about NHTSA's push for helmet laws

06/97 - MRF E-Mail Alert: NHTSA lobbies against helmet law repeals

09/96 - MRF White Papers: A Collection of Articles on the Repeal of the Federal Helmet Law, by Wayne Curtin

09/96 - MRF White Papers: 1996 Bibliography of Motorcycle Related Articles, by Drew Avery

09/96 - MRF E-Mail Alert: MRF testifies about ISTEA 97

09/96 - MRF E-Mail Alert: Visit Washington DC - Work for victory in '97

09/95 - MRF White Papers: The Next Era: A Helmet Law History, by Charlie Williams

09/95 - MRF White Papers: A Bibliography of Helmet and Motorcycle Safety Studies, by Drew Avery

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