February 02, 2011 (Press-News.org) In 2009, over 4,400 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). That number represents a 16 percent reduction from the previous year when over 5,300 riders died on U.S. roads.
Some of that reduction can be attributed to an increase in motorcycle helmet use. Statistics from the NHTSA note that in 2009, 67 percent of all motorcycle riders were regularly wearing helmets in 2009, up from 48 percent in 2005. But despite the recent decline in motorcycle deaths, the number of motorcycle traffic fatalities more than doubled from 1997 to 2008. As a result, the National Traffic Safety Board has added mandatory helmet use in its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2011.
History of Helmet Laws
According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Congress required states to enact motorcycle helmet laws in order to receive highway funding in 1967. Most states had complied with this requirement by 1975. But in 1976, Congress revoked the authority to assess penalties for noncompliance. Since that time, there has been little incentive for states to prioritize helmet laws and, as a result, laws regarding helmet use have been consistently weakened.
The GHSA notes there are 20 states that have a mandatory helmet law for all riders, with 27 others having a partial helmet law for passengers and minors. There are three states, Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire, that have no helmet law in place.
Effectiveness of Helmets
Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents according to the American College of Emergency Physicians. Still, many riders question just how effective helmets are at preventing serious injuries or death in accidents. As the NHTSA notes, even in states where motorcycle helmet use is mandatory, 86 percent of riders wear them.
Using a comparative analysis, the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the NHTSA has estimated that helmets are effective in reducing fatal accidents by 37 percent. The same analysis notes that helmets are even more effective in preventing the deaths of passengers with a 41 percent effectiveness rate.
Other Ways to Stay Safe
Helmets are the best way to stay safe, but they are also just one of the many steps riders can take to prevent serious and fatal accidents. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation notes that all helmets sold in the U.S. must have a Department of Transportation compliance sticker on them, meaning that the helmet meets specific impact criteria.
Aside from a helmet, the MSF recommends operators take other safety precautions when riding. Wearing some form of eye protection is crucial. If the helmet does not have an attached visor, it is important to wear shatterproof glasses or goggles. A jacket and pants made of sturdy material, along with gloves and boots, are also recommended.
Visibility is another factor working against riders. Much smaller than other vehicles, motorcycles do not stand out and are difficult for drivers to see. Riders are advised to wear high-visibility gear -- brightly colored clothing during the day and reflective gear when riding at night.
Working With an Attorney
Due to the difference in size and the open nature of a motorcycle, riders often face serious and life-threatening injuries. If you have been injured in motorcycle accident, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Article provided by Knapp & Roberts
Visit us at www.krattorneysautoaccident.com
NTSB Asking States to Take Up Mandatory Helmet Laws
The National Traffic Safety Board has added mandatory motorcycle helmet use in its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2011.
2011-02-02
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Proposed Commercial Driver Cell Phone Regulation Could Increase Safety
2011-02-02
On September 27th, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a new rule prohibiting drivers of commercial motor vehicles from texting while driving. Now, the FMCSA has announced a proposed new rule that would ban these same drivers from other uses of a mobile phone -- specifically reaching for, holding or dialing -- while driving.
The regulation would make the roads safer for all drivers, and establish an important standard that courts would look to in determining negligence in accidents. A period for comment on the new rule is now open, and ...
China Pledges to Fortify Intellectual Property Protections
2011-02-02
The likely successor to the current Chinese premier acknowledged during a recent trip to Europe that his country needs to improve protection of foreign copyrights, patents and trademarks.
"China will continue to improve foreign business related laws, regulations and policies, and give protection to intellectual property rights in order to provide a level playing field and a stable, orderly, transparent and predictable market environment for all players," Vice Premier Li Keqiang wrote in an article in China Daily marking his visit to Germany.
Responding to German Concerns
Mr. ...
Written Agreement Necessary for Palimony in New Jersey
2011-02-02
In January 2011, New Jersey legislators passed a bill requiring unmarried couples who agree to palimony to put their promises to each other in writing. New Jersey law recognizes both civil unions and domestic partnerships, but under the new legislation, unmarried couples cannot obtain palimony without written agreements.
Palimony
In a palimony agreement, an unmarried couple declares that one partner will provide financial support to the other partner if the couple's relationship ends. In addition to laying out each person's financial expectations and obligations, ...
Minnesota Court Decision Leaves Construction Company Unpaid for Completed Work
2011-02-02
A recent decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals has held that a construction company may not receive full payment from a city for the company's work on a completed construction project. The dispute arose out of a failed residential subdivision project, a scenario likely to be repeated in the wake of the housing boom and bust. The decision therefore may have important implications for construction law and commercial real estate.
Development Agreement
In early 2007, Percheron Properties, a developer, received approval from the City of Avon, Minnesota, to build ...
NHTSA Study Reveals Effectiveness of Antilock Brake Technology
2011-02-02
Because they weigh up to 80,000 pounds, when tractor trailers and other heavy trucks are involved in accidents, the consequences are likely to be serious. Any actions that help to reduce the number of truck accidents will help improve the overall safety of the roads and reduce the frequency of serious injuries.
In an effort to reduce truck accidents, federal regulations have required all newly manufactured semi-trailers and trucks to have Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) since 1998. However, it was not clear how effective this requirement had been in reducing truck accidents ...
Safety Concerns of Government Planes and Helicopters
2011-02-02
Most would think government aircraft are some of the safest in the country. As it turns out, this is likely not the case. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates airlines, lacks the authority to regulate the safety of aircraft operated by state and local governments or other federal agencies. The NTSB chairman, Deborah Hersman, said such aircraft are safety "orphans" with no body responsible for their safety.
Tragic Accident
The NTSB made its stunning finding after recently completing its investigation ...
Sharing the Road: Tips to Stay Safe on North Carolina Highways
2011-02-02
The number of motorcycle riders has increased in recent years and it is easy to see why: motorcycles are fun to ride, less expensive than cars and more fuel efficient. Unfortunately, riding a motorcycle can also be a risky activity, particularly on crowded highways. According to recent statistics, when an accident occurs, motorcyclists are three times more likely to be injured and five times more likely to be killed than those driving automobiles. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, contact a North Carolina motorcycle accident attorney ...
Atlanta Moving Company Coast 2 Coast Moving & Storage Highlights Flexibility During Moving Off-Season
2011-02-02
Atlanta moving company Coast 2 Coast Moving & Storage recognizes the benefits for potential movers during the wintertime, the off-season for moving companies. The flexibility afforded by moving over the winter is an attractive alternative for many over the busier summertime months.
When most families choose a time to move, school schedules play a major factor. Moving during the summer avoids the hassle of removing children from school, and the summertime is often more conducive to taking time off from work as well. Because the summer is the peak season for the moving ...
Smyrna Georgia Hotel Near Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Provides Accommodations to Fans at Clay Aiken in Concert
2011-02-02
Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Galleria Hotel, an affordable Smyrna Georgia hotel, is the perfect place for fan to stay who are traveling in town for Clay Aiken's Tried & True Tour. Aiken will take the stage at Cobb Performing Arts Centre at 8:00pm on February 16, 2011. He will perform songs off his newest and fifth studio album, "Tried & True," featuring classic songs including "Unchained Melody," "Suspicious Minds," "Can't Take My Eye's Off You," and "Mack the Knife".
First made famous in 2003 on the hit TV show American Idol where he was runner up, Clay Aiken is a singer, ...
Monroe North Carolina Hotel Offers Lodging to Upcoming Musical Production at Wingate University
2011-02-02
Super 8 Monroe North Carolina Hotel offers affordable accommodations to families and friends attending Wingate University's upcoming musical production of 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very bad Day'. The play will take place 7:00pm on February 11 and at 3:00pm on February 12, 2011. Wingate University, which is a private residential liberal arts university, is only 5 miles of this Monroe NC hotel.
The musical 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very bad Day' is based on the 1972 children's book. In the story Alexander wakes up with gum in ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Black hole vibes
Actual distance travelled by migrating whales drastically underestimated
The eagles resistant to poisonous toads
Cyberstalking growing at faster rate than other forms of stalking
CPADS: a web tool for comprehensive pancancer analysis of drug sensitivity
Several healthy diet patterns are associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes regardless of ethnicity – shows meta-analysis of more than 800,000 people
Liver fibrosis to cancer: scientists map path to block deadly transition
Microbiota boost immunotherapy? A meta-analysis dives into fecal microbiota transplantation and immune checkpoint inhibitors
Cancer's double agents: Fibroblasts both help and hinder immunotherapy
Unveiling large multimodal models in pulmonary CT: A comparative assessment of generative AI performance in lung cancer diagnostics
AI can fake peer reviews and escape detection, study finds
T cell senescence in the tumor microenvironment
Simple solution to save lives globally: Low-cost ‘SimpleSilo’ offers hope for babies with gastroschisis
Curbing roadway fatalities hinges on shared responsibility and rethinking safety
Beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people
Efforts underway to end race-based assessments of lung function
CAR-T cell therapy linked to increased risk of secondary primary malignancies globally
THER: integrative web tool for tumor hypoxia exploration and research
How sources of dietary fat influence cancer growth in obesity
Women less likely than men to receive MS drugs
AI language models sharpen chest CT diagnoses, speeding surgical decisions
Machine learning model predicts which patients with nasopharyngeal cancer respond to radiation
GenAI models extract pathological features for lung adenocarcinoma grading and prognosis
New research further investigates safety of general anesthesia in infants
We might inhale 68,000 lung-penetrating microplastics daily in our homes and cars – 100x previous estimates
Indian adults who move to cities are significantly more likely to become obese than their rural counterparts - and the longer they stay, the greater the risk
Instagram images could influence public opinion on certain major events
Different dimensions of psychopathy might be associated with different physiological underpinnings of facial emotion recognition - and oxytocin could affect this skill - per scoping review of 66 studi
How cumulative heat exposure affects students
An international survey of over 300 adults reveals that males born in summer are potentially more prone to depression than those born in other seasons
[Press-News.org] NTSB Asking States to Take Up Mandatory Helmet LawsThe National Traffic Safety Board has added mandatory motorcycle helmet use in its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2011.