More than 680 arrested in nationwide immigration raids Legislature taking up major civil asset forfeiture reforms Tucson woman sentenced to 5 years for mailing child porn to jailed husband Church of Blake wants a piece of Az's school voucher action Posted May 26, 2016, 9:51 am year was a bad one for motorcyclists, with a new estimate showing that 5,010 bikers were killed in crashes nationwide — the worst death toll inThe apparent 10 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities, based on an analysis by the Governors Highway Safety Association, coincided with a projected rise of about 8 percent in traffic deaths overall in 2015. Preliminary figures from the National Safety Council put the traffic deaths total at 38,300, also the highest level since 2008.Motorcycle-related deaths remained flat across Arizona, at 130 in both 2014 and 2015. But the state was in the top 10 for the percentage of roadway fatalities that involve cycles: 17 percent of traffic deaths wewe motorcyclists.

Arizona was in the top dozen states for the number of bikers who died in 2015.In Pima County, there were four fatal motorcycle crashes in 2015, with one so far in 2016. In the city of Tucson, there were three deadly cycle crashes in 2015, with five already this year.The rise in biker fatalities, as FairWarning has reported, follows years of advocacy by motorcycle rider groups to prevent regulators from promoting or enforcing tough requirements for safe helmets, the most effective way known to save bikers’ lives. say lower gas prices and a stronger economy, by encouraging more driving, are a big part of the explanation for the higher death tolls. But the refusal by many motorcycle riders to wear safe helmets, along with higher numbers of motorcycles on the road, also played a role.“These sobering findings provide a stark reminder of how susceptible motorcyclists are to fatal and life-threatening injuries,” said Richard Retting, co-author of the report from the governors’ safety group.

“Concerted efforts are needed to reduce this tragic loss of life.”Per mile driven, the fatality rate for motorcycles is 26 times higher than that for cars and trucks, according to the National HighwayAt the same time, the federal agencymotorcycle parts maidstone estimates that motorcycle helmets cut the risk of dying in a crash by 37motorcycle helmet inner foam NHTSA has estimated that, in 2013 alone, 1,630 lives were saved bymotorcycle dealers regina sk motorcycle helmets and more than 700 fatalities would have beenmotorcycle repair bellingham

prevented if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.by rider groups and “personal freedom” advocates overcame efforts by safety advocates to maintain that status quo. 2012, after Michigan revoked its longstanding requirement for all ridersmotorcycle for sale altoona pa to wear helmets, only 19 states still had such laws. motorcycle tyre shop cardiff law was eased to allow people 21 and older to ride without helmets ifharley davidson for sale grand forks they purchased at least $20,000 in medical insurance.The Governors Highway Safety Association report determined that the biggest jump in motorcycle fatalities last year came in Florida, where the death toll was estimated at 550, up from 450 in 2014.

association said Florida repealed its universal helmet law in 2000, making helmets voluntary for motorcyclists 21 and older with at least $10,000 in medical coverage for motorcycle-related injuries.Retting, the co-author of the association’s report, said a mandatory helmet use is not a “cure-all,” but it “is probably the simplest and arguably the most logical change in which you could save 700 lives aBut it’s very complicated because of the politics,” he added. “Motorcyclists are a very active and vocal lobby.”The American Motorcyclist Association — whose business members include Harley-Davidson and the American divisions of BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha — says it encourages the use of properlyBut the lobbying group “believes that adults should have the right to voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet,” said the AMA’s vice president for government relations, Wayne Allard, in a preparedThe group does not oppose laws mandating helmets for minors on

Allard declined to offer an explanation for the rise in the death toll, saying, “We prefer not to speculate on theThree other groups representing riders — the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation – did not respond to requests for comment.The governors’ association said 2015 is expected to be the third-worst on recordOnly twice before has the annual toll exceeded 5,000. In 2008, there were 5,312 motorcyclist deaths across the nation, and in 2007 the total was 5,174.An additional factor behind many of the motorcycle deaths, the governors association said, was drug and alcohol use. FairWarning has reported (here and here), consumers have bought tens of thousands of cheap so-called novelty helmets that don’t comply with federal safety standards. To curb motorcycle-related deaths, the governors’ association suggests that riders wear helmets meeting federal standards along with