News / Articles

MRF reports NHTSA seeking Motorcycle Safety Money

Published on 3/16/2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MMA Information Alert: MRF reports NHTSA seeking Motorcycle Safety Money

Yesterday, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had submitted their 2012 budget. Included in that budget is a section outlining Motorcycle Safety Grants, including a line item requesting $7 Million for the promotion of DOT Helmet use…

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) agrees with the MRF’s reading of the budget and concurs with their assessment that this is really nothing more than a cover for further Motorcycle-Only checkpoints such as those held in Georgia this past week during Daytona Bike Week.

While on the surface, anything promoting Motorcycle Safety should be a positive, NHTSA already has a track record of turning that into a negative – promoting and proposing a National Helmet Law, Promoting and funding Motorcycle-Only Roadblocks, and reducing focus on crash causation studies which could lead to avoidance, as opposed to attempting to force the burden of protection on Motorcyclists.

The MRF calls for all members to express their displeasure with the NHTSA budget. The MMA agrees and requests that all riders contact their legislators, as we’ve previously suggested with regard to HR904, which would stop NHTSA funding of Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints.

More information on HR904 can be found here:

http://www.massmotorcycle.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=769540&item_id=16198

Call, email, or fax your legislator and tell them you oppose Motorcycle-Only checkpoints! Be polite yet direct, for example:

“As a constituent of yours I am concerned that the NHTSA budget request for the 2012 fiscal year is asking for funding targeted to promote DOT helmet usage. As I’m sure you’re aware, helmets are a state issue and are not something that should be mandated by the federal government. In this environment of financial instability, I’m sure you could find far better uses for $7M. Unless NHTSA is going to focus on the causes of crashes involving ALL vehicles, we would rather see this money put to better use.”

You can find information concerning who your legislators are and how to contact them here:

http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm

For More Information , please see http://www.MassMotorcycle.org, http://www.mrf.org or contact mrfrep@MassMotorcycle.org

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 | Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org

11NR11 - MRF News Release - NHTSA Requests Motorcycle Safety Money

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 March 2011

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs

NHTSA Requests Motorcycle Safety Money

Administrator David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has submitted his 2012 budget request to the Appropriations Committees. One item in particular jumped off the page when the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) examined the $860 million request. Section 3011, Motorcycle Safety Grants, includes a $7 million ask that specifically adds the promotion of DOT compliant helmet use to the fund.

In the past, the motorcycle safety grant program has solely put money toward two areas: teaching people to ride motorcycles and educating the rest of the motoring public to look for motorcycles while driving. Diluting this already small grant program to include helmet use promotion will certainly diminish the effectiveness of the two existing programs.

In a recent Senate hearing, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was asked by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) to include a mandatory helmet law in his budget request. LaHood responded, "This administration believes that is a State issue." Apparently Strickland did not get that information.

It is troubling that NHTSA, whose mantra should be "crash avoidance," continues to promote "safer crashing." The MRF believes that the best crash is the one that doesn't happen. The MRF will keep you updated on this important issue.

Congressional Recess Period

Next week is the March Congressional recess period. Contact your US Senators and Representatives to attend a town hall meeting or face-to-face constituent meeting. Let them know you are not happy with NHTSA's requests and actions. Do not hesitate to contact the MRF should you need talking points or help scheduling a meeting.

Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

© All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

Return to Previous Page