Antilock brakes said to prevent motorcycle deaths
The Insurance Institute for Highway safety reports that antilock brakes have proven effective in reducing crashes by motorcycle riders, raising hopes for curbing an alarming increase in the rate of fatalities on two wheels in recent years.
According to the IIHS, a new study shows that antilock-equipped motorcycles are 37 percent less likely to be involved in fatal crashes than non-equipped bikes. The safety group also cited a report by the Highway Loss Data Institute showing that motorcycles with antilocks have 22 percent fewer damage claims per insured vehicle-year than bikes with conventional brakes.
The reports come at a time when motorcycle deaths are increasing, largely because of more registrations, and other vehicle deaths have been fallling.
Antilock brakes are an option on most motorcycle models, but the safety institute says they are growing in popularity, with more than half of riders surveyed saying they would get them on their next bikes.
In another report that might not be as well received by motorcycle riders, the highway loss institute found that motorcyclists in states that require helmets for all riders -- such as Maryland -- are less likely to file insurance claims than those in states with no laws or weaker laws. Its conclusion: helmets are effective in reducing head injuries -- which it called the leading cause of motorcycle deaths.
The same group surveyed rider and found that 73 percent say they always ride a helmet, 9 percent says they often wear one while 5 said they never do. The survey found that 57 percent who say they don't always wear helmets said they would if state law required it.
According to the survey, about half of motorcyclists oppose universal helmet laws but 76 percent agree that helmets make riding safer.
Another sobering finding: 43 percent of riders said they had been in at least one crash. But in spite of a tendency among some riders to emphasize the role of other vehicles in those crashes, two-thirds of those reported involved the motorcycle alone.
Comments
So anti-lock brakes are effective in stopping boomers from drinking and riding? I've seen that increase a lot in the last 10 years.
Posted by: SXS | March 31, 2010 8:32 PM
5 years ago the only bikes that had ABS where the big sport touring bikes. That is probably where most of the stats the Insurance Institute for Highway come from.
Now days you can find the add on option on just about every brand of bike for about $1,000 more. Some riders like ABS some do not. I've personally never had ABS but it surely will be an option I will consider next time I purchase a big heavy bike, but for the smaller bikes that weigh less than 400 pounds, I probably won't bother.
Now if CharmCity could just find some free motorcycle parking in the inner harbor like DC has done I could use less gas to get to work!
Posted by: Phillip | April 1, 2010 10:14 AM
Duh! ABS seems like a no brainer on a motorcycle. But, I remember some years ago when ABS was becoming common in cars, I asked a motorcycle riding friend if ABS was available on bikes. He looked at me like I was from outer space. Like why would you want that???
Posted by: Derek | April 1, 2010 11:47 AM
Has anyone done a correlation between the number of "sport" bikes on the road and the increase in fatalities? How many of the increase in fatalities were suffered while the motorcycle was exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or more?
Posted by: John20723 | April 1, 2010 1:33 PM
ABS is not going to help these crazies on those crotch Rockets.
Posted by: 1bigdog1 | April 1, 2010 3:44 PM
If this was the result of a study by riders, rather than a special interest lobby, it might have some value.
Posted by: texray | April 1, 2010 4:57 PM
I'm a tremendous fan of anti-lock brakes on motorcycles, and I'd definitely pay for them on any motorcycle that had them as an option. They definitely take the panic out of panic stops.
However, these findings are quite suspect and should viewed with skepticism. There is no exposure data to tell us, for example, if this is because they are ridden less or ridden in less hazardous situations. Personally, my guess is that the decision to pay the premium for ABS pre-selects riders who are more concerned and conscious of safety. They are likely to ride more cautiously, wear more and better protective gear, and probably have more experience.
I understand that this "study" was submitted for peer review to at least one highway-safety organization and, when subjected to peer critique for failings such as those mentioned above, the Insurance Institute for Horror Stories withdrew it. Now it is using press releases and its own publications, rather than science, to advance its agenda.
Motorcycle safety is currently abysmal in this country. ABS certainly could be one technology for improvement, but it requires some real science to find out.
Posted by: Art of the Motorcycle | April 6, 2010 8:54 PM
New Safety Braking was invented by Mark Lipski! They had several proffesionals test it and it lets you stop faster, smoother and safer than a normal computer type ABS.
He sent me the tests when I emailed him at lipskimark@yahoo.com and/or called him for info at 903.569.2998
I have it on my Harley Fat Boy!
Posted by: Steven Charles | May 7, 2010 2:42 PM