New Study Confirms Safety Benefit of Equipping Motorcycles with Anti-Lock Brake Systems
While motorcyclists are especially susceptible to injury in a motorcycle collision because of the inherent lack of stability and safety features of motorcycles, new research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) reaffirms the benefits of equipping motorcycles with an anti-lock brake system (ABS). Based on the results of this research and prior studies confirming the positive impact of ABS technology on motorcycle accident rates and the frequency of motorcycle accident injuries and fatalities, the IIHS and HLDI have submitted a joint petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requesting that the federal agency make ABS mandatory for new motorcycles.
The new study confirmed findings of prior research on the benefit of ABS brake systems both for reducing motorcycle collision rates and the risk of injury. According to the results of the recent study, motorcycles with ABS brake systems are twenty percent less likely to be involved in motorcycle collisions. The use of ABS technology also reduced the volume of motorcycle crash injury claims by 28 percent. The analysis revealed an even more significant benefit when motorcycles also were equipped with integrated front and rear brake controls. When both ABS and integrated braking technology was utilized by bike manufacturers, the motorcycle crash rate was reduced by almost a third.
The new study confirms prior reports by the IIHS and HLDI following studies in 2008 and 2010, which both indicated ABS yielded significant declines in both motorcycle accidents and motorcycle crash fatality rates. While the organizations urged the NHTSA to make ABS technology mandatory following those studies, they have formally petitioned the NHTSA in light of further research confirming the enormous benefit that may accrue to those operating the type of motor vehicle with the highest accident rates per licensed driver and highest fatality rates. The NHTSA reports that motorcyclists are thirty times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers of passenger cars.
For 30 years our law firm has been providing high quality legal services and helping injured people get the compensation they deserve. If you or someone you loved has been injured in a motorcycle accident or a family member has died, you may have a right to pursue a legal claim for personal injury or wrongful death. Our experienced Atlanta wrongful death attorneys at Montlick and Associates are available to provide effective legal representation to those throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast.
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