Archive for the ‘Motorcycle Accidents’ Category

July 2009–Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold is the lead author in the Senate of the HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act. Currently, because of a loophole in a 1974 law, group health plans are able to deny coverage to people injured while on a motorcycle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle or other similar recreational vehicle, or while horseback riding. It simply doesn’t make sense, Feingold writes in a special newsletter, to discriminate against people who may be injured enjoying the outdoors while on legal modes of transportation. Feingold’s bill fixes this loophole and ends the possibility that anyone may be denied coverage for injuries suffered during recreational activities.

Original Story

You might be surprised to learn that a study released last year found that riding a motorcycle is more dangerous for U.S. Marines than their tour of duty in Iraq. According to a November 2008 CNN report, motorcycle accidents had killed more Marines in the previous 12 months than enemy fire in Iraq—a rate that was so alarming, it prompted top brass to call a meeting to address the issue.

Twenty-five Marines had died in motorcycle crashes since November 2007,  according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines had been killed in action in Iraq. This comparison report came out in late 2008 and shows how vulnerable motorcycle riders are…even highly trained, physically fit Marines.

The 25 deaths in 2007-2008 were the highest motorcycle death toll ever for the Marine Corps.

The rise in motorcycle deaths wasn’t confined to Marines. The Navy reported 33 deaths on motorcycles over 2007-2008, representing a 65 percent jump from the previous time period. And authorities pointed out this is not primarily a military issue, that motorcycle deaths have been a problem in the civilian world, too.

Military officials were not sure why the deaths were on the rise. They initially believed that the accidents might involve mostly young Marines and sailors about 18 or 19 years old. But Navy statistics showed that five of the victims were 25, the most prevalent of any age involved in the crashes. Also two 40-year-old sailors were killed in motorcycle crashes.

Gen. James Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told CNN that commanders were trying to drill down on what “we need to do to help our Marines survive on these sport bikes.”

The Marine Corps has had a long-standing policy for all Marines who ride motorcycles to take a mandatory basic riding course. More recently, it added a second training course specifically designed to train Marines who ride sport bikes.

Any Marine caught riding, even on leave, without going through the training courses faces Marine Corps punishment, officials said. About 18,000 of the nearly 200,000 Marines are believed to own motorcycles. But he says the new training seems to be working: Of the 300 young men and women who had gone through the sport-bike course, only three had accidents.

One thing we can all do is to be aware of motorcycles and their riders, give bikers the courtesy and the safety buffers they need on the road. And, training is a huge issue. The Marines have it right, proper training is essential to biker safety. In a tough economy, many states have cut  back on funding for their motorcycle safety programs. Another way to keep these accidents from occurring centers on creating bike-safe roads, trails and bridges. Engineers designing roadways and bridges need to have motorcycles in mind. Every road, trail and bridge design should be motorcycle friendly as well as accommodating to automobiles.

Losing valuable military personnel in action is a recognized tragedy. It is equally tragic and traumatic when the death or injury is the result of a motorcycle accident. Men and women in the armed forces are highly trained and asked to do the most important job of keeping our nation safe for all of us. And they need the help of all of us to keep them safe—in all circumstances—on the battlefield, or on the road.