Significant gains have been made since the enactment of Federal motor vehicle and highway safety legislation in 1966; however, the annual toll of traffic crashes still remains tragically high. In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and General Estimates System (GES) revealed that an estimated 42,636 people were killed and another 2.8 million were injured on our Nation’s roadways. Traffic crashes continue to account for 95 percent of all transportation fatalities and 99 percent of injuries, and represent the leading cause of death for the age group 4 through 34 years old. The large number of crashes has placed a considerable burden on our Nation’s health care system affecting the economy, reaching $230.6 billion a year, an average of $820 for every person living in the United States. Recent data indicates that deaths and injuries attributable to motorcycle crashes are becoming a larger portion of this public health problem. Motorcycle crash-related fatalities have been increasing since 1997, and injuries have been increasing since 1998. Since the passage of the Highway Safety and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, an estimated 128,000 motorcyclists have died in traffic crashes. All road users are urged to protect themselves from injury or death by wearing safety belts, driving unimpaired, and observing traffic rules. Many motorcycle deaths could be prevented if motorcyclists would take responsibility for ensuring they have done everything possible to make their ride safe. This includes taking a rider training course and obtaining the license endorsement needed to legally operate a motorcycle, wearing personal protective gear including a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218-compliant helmet, and riding unimpaired. Additionally, motorists need to heighten their awareness of motorcyclists and share the road safely with these and other motor vehicles. (Author/publisher)
Abstract