The two-wheel exception to falling traffic deaths

The two-wheel exception to falling traffic deaths

Scripps Howard News Service: One of the more beneficial side effects of a slowing economy and rising gas prices is a decrease in traffic fatalities.

Last year traffic deaths fell to 41,059, the lowest since 1994, and the fatality rate — 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles — was the lowest ever, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

But there was one conspicuous exception to the fall in traffic deaths and in its own way related to high fuel costs — motorcycles. Last year, 5,154 motorcyclists died, up six percent from a year earlier and they now account for 13 percent of all crash fatalities. According to a calculation by The New York Times, motorcycle deaths are up 128 percent from their 1997 low.

Age catching up

The reasons vary. More people are riding motorcycles because their mileage is so much better than a car’s. More middle-aged and older men are resuming riding motorcycles as they did when they were young — and their reflexes and coordination were better. Another reason is the backlash against mandatory helmet laws. Only 20 states have laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, down from 47 in 1975. And motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are two and three times more likely than vehicle drivers to be under the influence of alcohol and not licensed for motorcycles

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, an industry group with an obvious interest in keeping its customers alive, relentlessly promotes its rider-training course. With decent training, a proper license, a helmet and a decent respect for sobriety, the deaths from this economical — and frankly fun — means of transportation can be brought down.

As Sgt. Esterhaus said on “Hill Street Blues,” “Hey, let’s be careful out there.”