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The Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of NC

“The Voice of the North Carolina Motorcycling Community since 1971”

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi                                                                            25 February, 2008

Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

This letter is forwarded to inform you that members of the Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina are unified in our opposition to the recent activities of Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.  As the largest motorcyclists’ organization in North Carolina we submit these comments in the interest of the nearly 195,000 owners of registered motorcycles in North Carolina. 

On February 13, 2008 Secretary Peters submitted proposed legislation to amend the language of SAFETEA-LU (PL109-59).  Secretary Peters proposes to change the language of subsection (e) (1) of Section 2010.  This would authorize individual States to use funds under Section 2010 to “…promote the use of motorcycle helmets”.   Secretary Peters’ motivation may be sincere, but we believe she has been ill advised.  The evidence is clear: Crashes kill bikers. Conversely, Crash Prevention saves lives.

For more than thirty-five years, bureaucrats and safety professionals have tried to force motorcycles into an ill-fitting “survive-the-crash” approach to safety.  USDOT statistics clearly illustrate that in spite of the millions of tax-payer dollars being focused on “passive- protection” campaigns, motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities continue to increase annually. Fueled by the personal, and painful, experiences of this failed approach to motorcycle safety, bikers concentrated our efforts on working with members of Congress to ensure that SAFETEA-LU provided funding for the development and evaluation of “Crash-Prevention” approaches to motorcycle safety.   

Since the passage of PL 109-59, motorcyclists remain committed to reducing motorcycle crashes.  Individual motorcyclists and motorcycling organizations have contributed their own money to raise the “matching funds” required to implement the Motorcycle Crash Causation Study at the University of Oklahoma.  At home in individual states, motorcycling organizations like CBA/ABATE of NC have worked closely with state DOT offices to implement and evaluate Motorist Education & Awareness, and Rider Education programs using the SAFETEA-LU funds directed toward this purpose. Given sufficient time and resources, the evidence will clearly demonstrate; Crash-Prevention strategies save lives.

If adopted, Secretary Peters’ amendment will negate the progress being made in developing programs to reduce the frequency of motorcycle crashes.  This amendment returns motorcycle safety policy to an antiquated, dangerous, and failed “crash-mitigation” mentality.  The most obvious result of returning to this failed “bureaucratically-convenient” policy will be the continuation of the 35 year history of annual escalation of motorcyclist fatalities. 

The truth is, our lives depend on you and your colleagues preventing the bureaucrats from “throwing-another-helmet” at motorcycle safety.  We anticipate your support on this issue.

Randy Norris

President

CBA/ABATE of North Carolina

The Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of NC

“The Voice of the North Carolina Motorcycling Community since 1971”

Mary E. Peters                                                                                     25 February, 2008

Secretary of Transportation

Washington, DC 20510

Secretary Peters:

This letter is forwarded to inform you that members of the Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina are united in our disappointment of your recently submitted proposal to amend the SAFETEA-LU (PL109-59), and authorize individual States to use Section 2010 funds to “…promote the use of motorcycle helmets”.  Your proposal holds motorcycle safety hostage to an antiquated, dangerous, and failed “crash-mitigation” paradigm that has been killing motorcyclists for over 35 years. 

As a self-proclaimed “Boomer-Biker” yourself, we believe your concern is sincere. However, we believe you have been ill advised.   Motorcycles are the most vulnerable highway users, and; the most neglected.  NHTSA’s own FARS data illustrate the failure of the current motorcycle safety paradigm. 

The basic design of the motorcycle does not lend itself to the “passive-protective-measures” that mitigate crash consequences for passengers in an enclosed vehicle.  In spite of the millions of tax dollars wasted on “helmet-use-promotion” campaigns; motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities continue to increase annually.  It is painfully obvious - crash mitigation does not work for motorcycles.

Motorcyclists know what is killing us.  The evidence is obvious: Crashes kill bikers. Conversely, Crash Prevention saves lives.  Fueled by the personal, and painful, experiences of this failed safety paradigm of “bureaucratic-convenience”, motorcyclists concentrated our efforts on working with members of Congress to ensure that SAFETEA-LU provided funding for the development and evaluation of “Crash-Prevention” approaches to motorcycle safety.  Now, your advisors wish to sabotage those efforts.

Since the passage of PL 109-59, motorcyclists have remained committed to validating a crash-prevention approach to motorcycle safety.  Individual motorcyclists and motorcycling organizations have contributed their own money to establish the “matching funds” required to implement the Motorcycle Crash Causation Study at the University of Oklahoma.  At home in individual states, motorcycling organizations like CBA/ABATE of NC have worked closely with state DOT offices to implement and evaluate Motorist Education & Awareness, and Rider Education programs using the SAFETEA-LU funds directed toward this purpose. Given sufficient time and resources, the evidence will clearly demonstrate; Crash-Prevention strategies save motorcyclists’ lives.

If adopted, your ill conceived “throw-a-helmet-at-the-problem” amendment will certainly impede, and possibly negate, the progress being made in developing programs to reduce the frequency of motorcycle crashes.  The obvious result of returning to a failed “one-policy-fits-all” approach to highway safety will be the continuation of the 35 year history of annual escalation of motorcyclist fatalities. 

Respectfully,

Randy Norris

President

CBA/ABATE of North Carolina

An avid motorcyclist himself, Representative Killian knows the issues facing motorcyclist on NC’s highways and has provided his staunch support and, sound advice in CBA/ABATE’s efforts to educate his legislative colleagues.  “Too frequently, our elected officials are recognized only when they have displeased their constituents.  Our membership wants to publicly acknowledge the efforts of legislators who work with us on important issues”, said Doc Ski, Legislative Director for CBA/ABATE of NC. 

According to Doc Ski, “This past legislative session was especially important to bikers in North Carolina.  By sharing his, personal experiences with his legislative colleagues, Ric Killian helped North Carolina lawmakers better understand the important role of motorcycles in the transportation network.”   Doc Ski added, “During deliberations in the House Transportation Committee, Representative Killian provided his unsolicited testimony in support of the Exemption for Motorcycles at malfunctioning traffic signals (SB 1359).  His remarks helped his colleagues to understand the dangers faced by a motorcyclist trapped at an intersection with a malfunctioning signal, and proved instrumental in helping this bill to pass the critical committee deliberations.”

 In receiving the award, Representative Killian thanked the group for their involvement in NC’s legislative activities and, for the many contributions The Concerned Biker’s Association makes in our state.

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How do I find out who represents me at the STATE level?

Go here and enter in your zip code: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html

If you do not have internet access, please provide your CBA chapter Legislative Coordinator with your zip code and he/she will look up your elected officials for you. 

How can I find out who represents me at the FEDERAL level?

Go here and put in your zip code. It will list your Federal elected officials. http://mygov.governmentguide.com/mygov/home/

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Go here: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/CommitteeInfo/CommitteeInfo.html

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How can I look up the text of a federal bill?

Go here: http://thomas.loc.gov/

How can I learn how to write an effective letter?

Please see the CBA web page for tips on writing your legislators: http://www.cba-abatenc.org/how_to.htm

How can I learn about how my government is structured and how a bill becomes a law?

Please see the “Legislative Tutorial for NC CBA Members” on www.NCRider.com tutorials page: http://www.ncrider.com/tutorial-page.htm

How can I join CBA/ABATE of North Carolina?

Go here: http://www.cba-abatenc.org/join.htm 

Look up CBA chapters here: http://www.cba-abatenc.org/chapter_listings.htm

How can I join the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF)?

Go here: http://www.mrf.org/join.php If you do not have internet access, you may call or write them here: 

Motorcycle Riders Foundation 236 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington, DC 20002-4980

Phone: (202) 546-0983 • Fax (202) 546-0986 www.mrf.org