Statistics Show Antilock Brakes on Motorcycles Save Lives
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently published statistics that show that anti-lock brakes on motorcycles save lives.
Anti-lock brakes are found on touring bikes and a limited number of motorcycles. They cost about $1000.
The statistics revealed that for 10,000 motorcycle accidents in 2005 and 2006, 6.6 fatal crashes were on bikes without anti-locks, and 4.1 involved bikes with antilocks. The statistics may be skewed by the level of experience and riding environment of those riding the differing types of bikes. Experience as well plays into the riders ability to stop, with it often being asserted that very experienced riders can stop with traditional brakes in shorter distances.
The disturbing part of the statistical work-up was that fatal motorcycle accidents have doubled in the last decade. More than 5,000 motorcyclist deaths occured last year compared with 2,294 in 1997.
This trend seems to be occuring in Northern California as well. Over this past summer there was an unsually high number of motorcycle deaths. Increasing population and traffic can account for some of these incidents, but, unfortunately, several occurred solo in the rural mountaneous areas. Let’s hope this trend can be curbed. If antilock brakes help at all, they should be embraced and made more available.