The CHP presents Thrill or Buzz Kill?, a motorcycle safety video reminding
motorcyclists about the added responsibility and attention the road demands.
California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) - The CHP is statutorily responsible
for California's official motorcycle safety training program. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 2930-2935,
the CHP administers the program through a primary contractor, currently the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. As of March
2012, over 800,000 motorcycle riders have received training at one of the CMSP's 134 training sites since the program
began in July 1987.
The program consists of a 15-hour classroom and on-cycle Basic
RiderCourse (BRC). The BRC is mandatory for those under
the age of 21 but is also recommended to those 21 and older who
are seeking to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their
California driver license. The CMSP also offers the Premier
Program which is an extended BRC consisting of 7.5 hours of
classroom and 13.5 hours of on-cycle time. While not part of
the CMSP, the CHP and its partners encourage all riders to
be life long learners. Riders can refresh or enhance skills at a
Basic RiderCourse2. A website,
www.ca-msp.org, serves as the training course referral service. Find out more about the
California Motorcyclist Safety Program.
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Data received from the California Office of Traffic Safety shows:
Motorcycle fatalities in California increased 175% in ten years, from 204 in 1998 to 560 in 2008.
These increases in motorcyclist deaths occurred at a time when significant gains were achieved
in other areas of traffic safety. Although we did experience reductions in motorcycle fatalities
in 2009 and 2010, preliminary 2011 data indicates a possible increase and motorcyclists are
over represented in overall numbers of traffic deaths.
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| A class of beginning motorcycle riders receive instruction.
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California Motorcycle-Involved Statistics
- Between 1986 and 1999, California enjoyed a
13-year decline in motorcycle-involved fatal and severe
injury collisions. However, starting in 1999, these numbers
steadily increased over a 10-year period peaking in 2008.
It is important to note, however, that according to 2009 and
2010 data, motorcycle-involved fatal and injury collisions
are down significantly.
Despite the strides in reducing motorcyclist fatality and
injury collisions over the past couple of years, statistics on
motorcyclists show a disproportionate rate of collisions
compared to numbers of riders and to other traffic. A National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration report shows that
for the same per-mile exposure, motorcyclists are roughly 28
times more likely to die than occupants of other vehicles.
Another conspicuous trend involves the number of
motorcyclist fatalities and age. Several groups of riders are
over represented, compared to their presence within the
motorcycle riding population. For example, a small percentage of
the motorcycle operators are riders aged 15-19 (4 percent)
and 20-24 (6 percent), yet represent nearly twice that
percentage of fatalities (11-13 percent). A second group
of riders over represented according to their presence in the
population is riders aged 25-54. It should also be noted
that 90 percent of the fatal victims are male.
The primary cause for 59 percent of the motorcycle
collisions were attributed to three factors: unsafe speed, improper
turning, and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or
drugs.
Lastly, 65 percent of the fatal and 56 percent of the
injury motorcycle-involved collisions were the fault of the
motorcyclist.
Motorcycle Helmets - Repeated attempts
to repeal California's motorcycle helmet law and substitute
it with a lesser version requiring those under 18 to
wear a United States Department of Transportation compliant
helmet have failed in the state legislature.
Statistical information continue to support the helmet law, but some
adult riders have been advocating its repeal from the
moment the law went into effect on January 1, 1992. Advocates
of repeal contend it is a matter of individual choice
whether to wear a helmet or not, and a personal right to
decide whether to take the risk. The idea that
motorcyclists over 21 should be exempt from the requirement for
helmets completely ignores some other facts that
prompted passage of the helmet law. In 1987, before the law was
passed, 77 percent of motorcyclist fatalities involved
victims over the age of 21, with 69 percent of those
injured over the age of 21.
Motorcycle Safety Grants: The
California Highway Patrol (CHP) will implement a 12-month traffic safety
grant to reduce motorcycle-involved collisions on
popular roadways and mountain range areas throughout California. To
maximize enforcement efforts, each CHP Division will
identify and concentrate on problematic locations on routes within
their respective Areas, where motorcycle-involved
collisions are the highest. Grant activities will include enhanced
enforcement, a public awareness and educational
campaign, and paid media campaign will be launched to show a "share the
road" Public Service Announcement. The project ends
September 30, 2012 . The grant will be disseminated throughout CHP
field Divisions between October 1, 2011, and September
30, 2012.
Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Challenge Area 12, Improve Motorcycle Safety
- The MSP Unit is responsible
for co-leading and participating on this dedicated
challenge area. A most recent accomplishment was the internal
development
and distribution of a 12-minute DVD, 700 Gs, It's a
Killer, which provides education about proper and legal motorcycle
safety helmets. The MSP Unit is in the process of
developing additional action items in collaboration with its partners
including the Department of Motor Vehicles, California
Department of Transportation, and Office of Traffic Safety. Action
items are expected to commence in October 2011 with a
target date of completion for most items to be October 2013.
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