Motorcycles

Consumer information

Motorcycle ABS: Why you want to ride with it — explains how antilocks work and why they make motorcycles safer

Fatality Facts: Motorcycles

Q&As

Motorcycles: general

Motorcycle helmet use laws

State laws

Helmet use laws by state

Informational video

Motorcycle antilock brakes

Consumer video available for purchase

Helmet Laws: Whose Freedom? When motorcyclists crash, the results can be disastrous. This is especially true in the case of brain injuries. This video illustrates the consequences of riding without a helmet.

Research papers

Motorcycle ABS and time to claim; Highway Loss Data Institute, April 2012

Insurance special report: Motorcycle antilock braking system (ABS); Highway Loss Data Institute, December 2009

Selected research bibliography

Highlights from the Institute's research since 1969

News releases

November 10, 2011 New brochure on motorcycle antilock brakes provides key safety information for riders

May 6, 2010 Institute calls on government to mandate antilock brakes for all new motorcycles

March 31, 2010 Motorcycles with antilock brakes have fewer fatal crashes and lower insurance losses than bikes without antilocks

September 11, 2007 Popularity of high-performance motorcycles helps push rider deaths to near-record high

July 30, 2002 Motorcycle rally next week points to problem of increasing rider deaths, especially older riders

January 10, 2002 Deaths of older motorcyclists increasing; riders 40+ account for a bigger share of the cyclist death toll

December 20, 2000 Best & worst state traffic safety laws: some states do a better job than others

Status Report newsletter special issues

Vol. 42, No. 9, September 11, 2007: Special issue: motorcycles

Vol. 42, No. 5, May 12, 2007: Special issue: one day of crashes — the stories of some of the 119 people killed in crashes on June 7, 2005

Vol. 37, No. 1, January 12, 2002: Special issue: motorcycle deaths

Vol. 35, No. 10, December 20, 2000: Special issue: state traffic safety laws: includes information on helmet use laws

Status Report newsletter articles

Vol. 47, No. 4, May 31, 2012: Motorcycle antilocks slash claims for newly insured riders • Michigan allows most motorcyclists to skip helmets

Vol. 46, No. 6, July 19, 2011: Motorcycle helmets to get updated labels to help curb market for unsafe novelty helmets

Vol. 45, No. 10, September 28, 2010: Motorcycle antilocks lower crash risk, despite government claims in a poorly designed study

Vol. 45, No. 3, March 31, 2010: Survey of motorcyclists focuses on travel patterns, crash involvement, helmet use, and other aspects of cycling and safety • Wearing a helmet reduces injuries, based on analysis of insurance claims for medical costs • Motorcycle antilocks are safety pluses • Mandatory training courses for motorcycalists don't reduce crashes

Vol. 44, No. 8, September 17, 2009: Crash deaths continue to decline, though deaths of motorcyclists keep bucking the overall trend

Vol. 43, No. 10, November 25, 2008: Motorcyclists died in record numbers in 2007, while deaths in passenger vehicles fell to the lowest toll ever recorded

Vol. 43, No. 9, October 22, 2008: Antilock brakes on motorcycles reduce both crash frequencies and deaths; 2008 motorcycles with antilocks

Vol. 41, No. 9, November 21, 2006: Fatality Facts — motorcyclists fuel increase in fatalities

Vol. 40, No. 8, September 28, 2005: Weakening Florida's helmet use law has resulted in more cyclist deaths

Vol. 39, No. 7, August 1, 2004: Louisiana's helmet law strengthened • Effects of Florida's weakened helmet law measured

Vol. 39, No. 2, February 7, 2004: Highway safety update — motorcycle deaths in Germany

Vol. 38, No. 9, September 25, 2003: State legislative update: motorcycle helmets

Vol. 37, No. 7, August 17, 2002: Motorcycle deaths in South Dakota cluster around rally in August

Vol. 37, No. 3, March 16, 2002: Some state licensing and DUI/DWI laws have been strengthened, but no safety belt laws have been changed to primary

Vol. 33, No. 3, April 4, 1998: Motorcycle helmet laws in danger of repeal in many states • Helmet saves rider's life • Helmets prevent rider deaths and serious brain injuries

Regulatory comments

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration refuting agency study on motorcycle ABS effectiveness and supporting rulemaking to require the technology (Docket No. NHTSA-2002-11950), August 18, 2010

Comment to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning proposed amendment to federal standard requiring ABS on all motorcycles, April 30, 2010

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning amendments to motorcycle helmets standard (Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0157), December 1, 2008

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning amendments to motorcycle brake systems standard (Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0150), November 17, 2008

Testimony

Statement before the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee, Motorcycle helmet laws, Michael Fagin, March 9, 2010

Statement before the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Motorcycle helmet laws, Michael Fagin, February 25, 2010

Statement before the North Carolina House Select Committee, Motorcycle helmet laws, Stephen L. Oesch, March 4, 2004