NHTSA, AMA Partner to Combat Impaired Motorcycle Riding

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2002 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) today announced a partnership on a national impaired riding campaign. The program is intended to educate motorcyclists about the dangers of drinking and riding.

In 2001, 3,181 motorcyclists died on the nation's roadways. Of those, 41 percent were impaired, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or greater -- the legal limit of impairment in many states.

"My years in law enforcement have shown me that alcohol and motorcycles are a deadly combination," stated NHTSA Deputy Administrator Annette Sandberg. "I commend the American Motorcyclist Association for providing national leadership to help reduce impaired riding among its members and all motorcyclists."

Impaired riding issues were listed among the urgent recommendations of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, a national plan that was developed by the motorcycling community in late 2000.

The AMA Ride Straight Campaign will develop messages specifically targeting motorcyclists and will incorporate segments of NHTSA's current Friends Don't Let Friends Ride Drunk and You Drink & Ride. You Lose campaigns.

"After contributing to the development of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, it's natural for the AMA to now take the lead in addressing the issue of impaired riding," said Robert Rasor, President of the American Motorcyclist Association. "The AMA is proud to be the first national motorcycling organization to act on a recommendation of the National Agenda."

The AMA will launch Ride Straight in mid-2003. For more information, visit the AMA web site at: http://www.AMADirectlink.com or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN. The AMA, based in Pickerington, Ohio, is a non-profit organization with more than 250,000 members.

NHTSA's website is: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.