Motorcycle training Essay Example for Free

Motorcycle training Essay This training was developed by police officers for police officers. The information provided is meant to enhance officer knowledge and safety in the realm of motorcycle laws through enforcement and public education of those motor vehicle/motorcycle laws, and give officers the information to help reduce the number of motorcyclist killed or injured in traffic crashes. The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) would like to thank the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for their help in making this training possible. Particular thanks go to Earl Hardy and William Cosby of NHTSA for their on-going guidance. We also must extend our thanks to the following individuals who participated in the curriculum development. Their knowledge and experience helped to define the content of the materials for the lesson modules and critical information was covered for law enforcement. The individuals who helped make this training a reality include the following: Mr. Richard Davis, Arkansas State Police; Lt. Jim Halvorsen, New York State Police; Lt. Michael Turcott, Washington State Police; and Mr. John Young, Texas Department of Public Safety. Special thanks to Inspector Patrick McManamon, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles and Mr. Albert Liebno, Maryland Police Correctional Training Commissions for their feedback on improving the presentations. The information contained in this program by no means reflects the opinions of all the individuals listed. June F. Kelly, Project Manager, IADLEST. Assistant Director, Vermont Police Academy TITLE: Motorcycle Safety and Enforcement Training for LE (Law Enforcement) Lesson Purpose: To understand why the enforcement of motorcycle laws, support of national motorcycle safety enforcement efforts and best practices are critical to reduce motorcycle fatalities and injuries. Date Prepared: May 1, 2009 PURPOSE STATEMENT This training manual developed by IADLEST is intended to assist law enforcement in the enforcement of motorcycle laws. Its purpose is to share existing motorcycle laws knowledge, discuss motorcycle safety issues, the scope of problems involving enforcement of motorcycle laws, and present best practices in the realm of enforcement of motorcycle laws, sharing of safety practices for law enforcement, the motorcyclist and the public, prevention of motorcycle accidents and fill an existing gap in law enforcement training. The goal of this training is to have all police officers trained through their Police Academies or POST1 Programs. We propose to act on the knowledge gained in this course to promote â€Å"enforcement of motorcycle laws† and reduce the problem of unlicensed motorcyclists, motorcycle DUI, non- compliant helmets, and speed related crashes. P. O. S. T. is the acronym for Police Officer Standards and Training TITLE: Training for the Enforcement of Motorcycle Laws Opening Statement This training will look at situations unique to the enforcement of motorcycle laws such as the following: Why so many motorcycles injuries and fatalities and what can law enforcement do through public education and enforcement? Motorcycle Types and Characteristics Safety Laws Related to Equipment and Operation Motorcycle licensing and speeding issues Officer and Motorcyclist Safety Consider â€Å"distracted driver† issues and how critical it is to operating a motorcycle. Driver talking to passenger Cell phone use (yes, in a car and even on a motorcycle) Talking to another motorcyclist, riding two or three abreast Strategies for traffic stops Strategies to avoid pursuit situations Crash Investigation Detection of impaired motorcyclists Detection of non-compliant helmets Latest on enforcement public relations campaigns Specific course objectives. 1. Why this course? Explain national statistics bulleted on slide. 2. Review motorcycle laws related to critical areas. Equipment Licensing requirements Alcohol-related/impaired behavior of motorcyclists Speed Enforcement Helmets FMVSS 218 and what are the pending revisions 3. Officer Safety concerns Explain and share strategies for stopping motorcycles and Strategies to avoid pursuits. 4. Motorcycle Crash Investigation awareness First Responder Safety and Motorcyclist First Aid Pointers What are some motorcycle crash investigation pointers to consider for crash investigators? Does your state have standardized data gathering and reporting for motorcycle crashes? 5. Encourage motorcycle safety and education. National Statistics 2 Injuries Fatalities According to US DOT, Motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled since 1998, increasing 130 percent over a ten year period. Registration trends Motorcycles account for 3 percent of all registered vehicles; however motorcycle fatalities represent 13 percent of traffic fatalities in the United States. Unlicensed motorcycle drivers1 out 4 motorcycle riders (25%) involved in fatal crashes in 2008 were not properly licensed. DUI is a factor in fatalities Alcohol is a significant factor in far too many motorcycle fatal crashes. In 2008, 29 percent of all fatally injured motorcycle operators had BAC levels of . 08 or higher, and 43 percent of those killed in single-vehicle crashes were over . 08 BAC, and that number jumps to 64 percent on weekend nights. Helmet Use Nationally Helmet Laws from State to State   20 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require helmet use by all;   Other States have â€Å"partial helmet† laws based on age or no laws requiring helmet use. Enforcement Issues   There is limited training on enforcement of motorcycle laws because most police academies across the country do not have courses on the topic or only provide brief coverage on motorcycle laws in their basic motor vehicle law classes.   Training on motorcycle law enforcement is often specialized and appeals to those that ride. Most law enforcement officers do not ride motorcycles so they do not know what to look for regarding motorcycle equipment, helmets and the laws. Motorcycle Risks Motorcyclists Are at Risk from Other Drivers. Drivers of passenger vehicles and all types of vehicles need to be alert of motorcycles. Motorcycles are small and may be difficult for drivers of other vehicles to see.   Motorcycles have a much smaller profile than other vehicles.   Due to the smaller profile it can be difficult to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle.   After a crash, the drivers of other vehicles involved often say they never saw the motorcyclist and were unable to respond in time.   In the event of a crash, a motorcyclist is much more vulnerable and in much greater danger physically than other vehicle occupants. In fact, â€Å"Per vehicle mile traveled in 2007, motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and 9 times more likely to be injured. † National Statistics Motorcyclist Deaths are Rising.   In 2008, motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the tenth straight year.   During 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists lost their lives in fatal highway crashes, an increase of 2 percent over the 5,174 motorcyclists killed in 2007.   Motorcycle riders were involved in more than one out of nine of all U. S. roadway fatalities. 47 percent of all fatalities in motorcycle crashes in 2008 involved another vehicle in addition to the motorcycle in the crash.   77 percent of all two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle were struck in the front with only 7 percent struck in the rear.   In 41 percent of the crashes involving a motorcycle and another type of vehicle, the other vehicle was turning left when the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle.   In 2008, 35 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding. Law Enforcement. Law enforcement has a special contribution to make in the prevention of motorcycle crashes. Some of these contributions are simple and some are very difficult: dirt bikes in traffic are an obvious hazard; unlicensed motorcyclists are difficult to detect, and according to the Hurt study impaired motorcycle riders are far more difficult to detect than impaired automobile drivers. The increases involvement of the unlicensed rider in all crashes, and the impaired rider in fatal crashes, demands enforcement action, but legal requirements of due cause for a traffic stop may limit this action. These edited comments are a part of the Hurt Study released in 1981, which tried to research motorcycle crash cause factors and identify countermeasures to use in the idea of providing the basis of due cause for preliminary enforcement action and screening of traffic for unlicensed riders. One fundamental rider communication measure suggested in the study was enforcement action by ticketing for a for a traffic violation. The data of this research shows that driver improvement is vital to those motorcycle riders who have had traffic violations or crashes, and experience has shown that a special motorcycle traffic school is an effective alternative to the payment of a fine for a citation. Advantage should be made of this contact opportunity to require a special motorcycle traffic school for motorcycle riders with traffic citations so that critical information can be given to these likely crash candidates. The Hurt study was cited in many references about motorcycle crash cause studies and countermeasures over the years. This study is now 30 years old. A new study is currently under commission through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to the Oklahoma Transportation Center for the â€Å"new Motorcycle Crash Causation Study†. The hope is that this study will shed new light on the causes of crashes and update the old data. HURT STUDY – Highlights Key Points Learned 75% M/C crashes involve another vehicle 2/3 of those crashes other vehicle failed to yield right of way to M/C Failure of motorist to recognize M/C is predominate cause of crash Crash configuration—M/C traveling straight other vehicle turning maneuver Riders 16 and 24 of age are over-represented in these crashes (96% male) 92% of the riders we self taught without any â€Å"formal† training 50% of fatal M/C riders had alcohol usage Motorcyclist had significant collision avoidance problems, i. e. , over/under braking, poor ability to counter steer and swerve, etc. Typically less than 2 seconds for motorcyclist to react Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields low crash involvement – maybe related to conspicuity (more frontal surface) High number of M/C riders had no M/C license , no license of any type or were suspended/revoked