Triumphrat

HAP

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2/1502...6-Billion.aspx

Any time our federal government asks for costs associated with any product it is time to pucker up. They will be gunning for us shortly.

Universal Helmet laws, stricter helmet safety enforcement, more money to train police on how to enforce safety issues (more bike only stops) and allowing states greater freedom to spend the federal motorcycle safety money as they see fit.

One very interesting lead figure was head injury costs $1.2 mil but over all medical costs represent only 18% of the 16bn cost, 44% was cost of lost wages. Hmm how do they know what the accident victims made or lost?

If you want the government to run and control your motorcycle hobby, enjoy the read. If, on the other hand, this skewed report gives you the shivers you should consider contacting your congress member or the AMA and let them know. The NHTSA is the same group that tried to limit all bikes to 600cc. If you think government forced use of corn gas is corrupt you will just love the anti bike crowds take on this report.

Rose

Helmets regardless should be of a standard to protect the old noggin. Those stupid old piss pot helmets should not be allowed. So I agree with a standardised helmet rule.

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I have a gift for enraging people, but if I ever bore you, it’ll be with a knife.

jimbon

And clearly that stupid old piss pot life: 'when rising no later than...'

PopPop

What's skewed ? Am I that thick headed. Please feel free to answer. I just read a bunch of numbers and it seems like the focus on helmets only addresses a small part of the losses but it seems that GAO is trying to let the states have a little more say in how they spend federal money for other safety efforts. Isn't that a good thing?

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Even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. -- Stephen Hawking.

zippyburgertush

Things to remember :
.a) The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity"--Harlan Ellison
.b) Both diapers and politicians should be changed regularly , for the same reason !
.c) Let Someone Else Do It -- is every intelligent person's philosophy of life. There are plenty of things that if we stop doing them for a long enough time, some other sucker with less patience and a greater sense of responsibility will do them instead. This is an established law of our social reality, and it is our obligation to uphold it.

Moogs

+16,000,000,000

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Whomever said all good things in moderation certainly never rode a bad ass Bonneville

spank86

@HAP: I'd imagine they know what their jobs were and how long they were off work for... Bit of maths and you know lost earnings. Failing that you extrapolate from old bank records.


I don't know about laws but I certainly think the USA could do with a few helmet awareness campaigns so people could choose not to wear them with the full range of facts. It should at the very least be included in the test and mandatory during the test (whatever test that is)

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HAP

Just a tad of back ground.
In America we have separation of of states rights from Federal government rights. In this case the states have enacted rules, laws regarding helmet use and the voters have over ruled them. That pi$$es them off so they go to the feds and ask to use highway tax money grants for specific uses that are not in the original federal guidelines for all vehicles, not for motorcycles only to force a national helmet law.

The insurance industry is behind all most all directions the National Highway Safety folks go. When the industry wanted to limit "super bikes" to 600cc some states balked so it could not be the rule of the entire country. In this case the states wont all line up behind a single type of helmet for all or even all age riders.

If states want to pass laws against motorcycles, bicycles, trikes, scooters then let them and if their voters don't care so be it but use state money to do it. But to create false, mis leading spin reports to get the federal government to use highway tax fund money to single out one form of vehicle from all others is not how our government is supposed to work.

I am not against helmet laws but they are a states right to pass. If you don't like a certain state law, lobby against it to get it changed by the voters or move your fanny to some other state but quit asking that all of your wants, desires, beliefs and fads be enacted by the feds on every one else who might not agree.

Why do you think there is such a difference between California and the rest of the country as regards laws of all types? Oh and New York State is the state that got caught using this grants to pay lobbyists to push for helmet laws nation wide, they also are fighting in the courts their use of these grants to fund motorcycle only traffic stops. If you like that then live there. If not live in one of the other 49 states. That is how our government was meant to work.

alfacliff

Pop Pop, when did wage and earning statements become part of accident investigations?
when does the government go after that data after an accident? or is it just the usual estimate, based on the harley riders being doctors and lawyers and such?
Cliff

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2006 Bonnie Black
1980 Yamaha xs650 sold 4-30-2011

PopPop

That's a good question alfacliff
. Maybe the GAO can site the source for their data. As a Large employer, I am definitely interested in reducing lost productivity.


Sent from my iPhone

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Even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. -- Stephen Hawking.