An insurance industry group that in the past tried to ban sportbikes, and more recently claimed that sport-style motorcycles are more dangerous than other types of bikes, is now asking the federal government to mandate anti-lock brakes (ABS) for all new motorcycles.
The call for ABS on all motorcycles could actually increase the risk of a crash in certain conditions, according to the AMA.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) claims that fatal motorcycle crashes could be cut by more than one-third if all motorcycles had ABS. On May 6, the IIHS asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate motorcycle ABS based on IIHS research.
Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, said that while the AMA supports the increased availability of ABS, it shouldn’t be required for all motorcycles.
“Anti-lock brakes are already an option offered by motorcycle manufacturers for some models, and should continue to be an option,” Moreland said. “But mandating anti-lock brakes for all motorcycles could lead to disaster.”
For example, Moreland noted that there are situations when anti-lock brakes could increase the risk of a crash, such as when riding an off-highway motorcycle on a trail, or when riding an on-highway or dual-sport motorcycle on a dirt or gravel road.
He also said that requiring anti-lock brakes on motorcycles could increase the cost of a new bike by $1,000 or more.
“It’s simply naive to call for an ABS mandate,” Moreland said.
Moreland noted that the IIHS has trotted out flawed research in the past to further its agenda against motorcycles.
Three years ago, the IIHS released a report claiming that sport-styled motorcycles are considerably more dangerous than other types of bikes. But an AMA analysis of the report showed that the methodology used in the research made it difficult to determine whether that was a valid conclusion.
For example, the study didn’t consider the number of miles a bike is ridden, the traffic environment in which it was used, the age and experience of the rider, and other factors.
“It’s entirely possible that the report actually demonstrates that younger, less experienced riders are more prone to crash than older riders, regardless of the type of bike they’re riding,” Moreland said. “And that’s true for all types of motor vehicles — cars, trucks or motorcycles.”
In the late 1980s, the IIHS produced a study that it claimed showed sportbikes were dangerous, and convinced a U.S. senator to introduce a bill to ban them. That study also didn’t discuss miles ridden, whether riders were licensed, or what actually caused the crashes.
AMA members flooded their federal lawmakers with well-thought-out letters opposing the proposed ban, and AMA officials met with the senator who introduced the bill. After that meeting, the senator agreed to stop pursuing it.
Retrieved May 12, 2010; from http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1958
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