Washington Motorcycle Rider Safety Task Force Report

Friday, December 8th, 2006 at 8:28 pm by retrorider

The Washington Motorcycle Rider Safety Task Force, formed in January of 2006 by Governor Chris Gregoire, has released their report and recommendations to reduce motorcycle fatalities in Washington state.

The task force included members of motorcycle rider groups and state agency representatives, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health.

The task force identified the following trends in motorcycle fatalities in Washington:

  • Most fatalities occur during daylight hours in dry weather.
  • More than 80% of fatalities occur between April and September
  • Half of all fatal motorcycle crashes were single vehicle crashes. When alcohol is a factor, two-thirds of fatal crashes are single vehicle crashes.
  • The most common contributing factors to motorcycle fatalities are lane error, speeding, alcohol and inattention.
  • One-third of fatalities were motorcyclists who did not have a valid motorcycle endorsement.

Based on these findings the task force concluded that the most important factors are within the control of the rider and that, therefore, efforts should focus on rider skill and behavior.

Among the recommendations are:

  • Washington needs to increase the availability of rider training courses and move to a training model similar to that used in Oregon.
  • A major education and public awareness campaign should be mounted to counteract motorcycle and automobile driver behavior that contributes to fatal crashes.
  • Impounding the motorcycle of riders found to be riding under the influence or do not have a proper or current motorcycle endorsement.
  • DoL should discourage dealers from allowing unendorsed motorcycle purchasers to ride a newly purchased motorcycle from their lot.
  • A current motorcycle endorsement should be required to renew a motorcycle registration.
  • Motorcycle groups should encourage proper endorsement for participation in organized riding events.

The complete report, with lots more detail, is available at: http://www.dol.wa.gov

10 Comments

You know…I do not like the gub’ment dealing out ‘recommendations’ to improve things. They usually get worse. That said, I cannot argue against any of points listed.

How is that possible?

Comment by angrybob | December 9th, 2006 1:30 pm | Permalink

Everytime a cop pulls a motorcyclist over, the first thing they should check is for a “motorcycle endorsement”. If you don’t have it, you should spend a night in the clink.

I’ll agree with AB, the recommendations are reasonable. It’s also time for tiered-licensing (NO GSXR-1000s or Harleys for riders with absolutely no experience).

I will take exception to a few of the “contributing factors”. Only alcohol level is truly measurable in a “fatal” crash. While speeding can be “estimated” based on physics, there are way too many “coefficients” that are assumed by the folks who calculate these kinds of things. I believe the authorities always want to keep “speeding” as a major factor, so they can continue to collect “revenue” from us. If “speed kills” then all racers should be dead. What is “lane error”, not staying on the road?, running wide in a turn? And finally, “inattention”, how do they determine this???

But overall it seems this organization has tried to make a “real” effort to figure out what’s going on. The AMA announced about a year ago that the funds were available for another “Hurt Report” but I’ve heard nothing since. Does anyone know if there will be another thorough study of motorcycle accidents anytime in the near future? This would go a long way toward exposing truly meaningful data.

Rhino

Comment by Anonymous | December 10th, 2006 9:57 am | Permalink

Don’t hold your breath for tiered licensing. This is America, where you have the God Given Constitutional right to be as stupid as you want to be. And then sue whomever “enabled” your stupidity by allowing you to buy or use the instrument of your (and others) destruction. It would send ABATE into orbit and the states would never agree on a standard.

FYI: There will be another “Hurt” style study sometime in the next year or so. Congress voted the funding. It will be held in some mid-west city whose representative managed to acquire a little more “pork” for his state. Only time will tell if it’s going to be as definitive as Harry’s report from the 70’s. I doubt if most will give this new report the same weight or validity.

Comment by Mike | December 15th, 2006 2:12 pm | Permalink

Washington had a tiered motorcycle licensing system up until a few years ago. When I first moved here 12 years ago it was in place and I thought it was a good idea. It was tiered by engine displacement and although I don’t remember the breakpoints, the top level was 750 cc and above (I had a 750 at the time and that was what I had to test on.)

Comment by Retrorider | December 15th, 2006 2:18 pm | Permalink

Retro. Thanks for the info on Washington’s tiered system. So why did they drop it? I’m curious, especially since Washington state is so intent on improving it’s rider safety program. FYI: Here in Florida, beginning in Jul ‘08, they will require anyone buying or registering a motorcycle to show proof that they’ve completed a 15 hour rider safety course.

Comment by Mike | December 15th, 2006 5:18 pm | Permalink

I don’t know why Washington dropped the tiered licensing. It happened during a time when I was not actively riding and so I wasn’t really paying attention.

Interestingly, The MSF has announced that they are suing the Team Oregon program which is widely regarded as a model of excellence for rider training. It is also the program that the task force recommended for adoption in Washington state. (More on the suit here.

Comment by Retrorider | December 15th, 2006 5:44 pm | Permalink

When riding in the State of Washington, what is the restrictions for size of a group ride (the number of riders that you can have in one group at a time)?

Comment by Ron Gaudette | May 13th, 2007 3:16 pm | Permalink

Ron, I am not aware of a specific limit on the size of a group.

Comment by retrorider | May 13th, 2007 6:18 pm | Permalink

It’s long been known that one of the largest reasons politicians make laws is to protect Americans from themselves. This seems to be no different. In this day and age people don’t have the common sense to realize no helmet = brain damage, they need the government to tell them it’s bad to ride without a helmet, similar to an over bearing parent.

Comment by The Law Firm of Robert Dewey - Charlotte Personal Injury | March 26th, 2008 10:17 am | Permalink

The main reason Washington is doing this is to minimize wrongful death litigation resulting from motorcycle accidents.

Comment by The Cressman Law Firm, PA | March 27th, 2008 1:25 pm | Permalink

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