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Motorcycle Safety Foundation Statement on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2005 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes

IRVINE, Calif.--Aug. 22, 2006--In response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration release of its 2005 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org) renewed its call for riders and motorists to work together in reducing the number of motorcycle crashes on America's roads and highways. MSF believes this can best be accomplished through awareness, removing alcohol from the riding environment, taking approved rider training courses, and wearing proper protective gear.

"One fatality is one too many, and we urge riders to take vital safety precautions. We also ask that all roadway users expect to see motorcyclists on the road and respect their right to be there," said MSF President Tim Buche.

The increase in motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities cannot be attributed to a single cause. Observations from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) point to key issues of safety concern for motorcyclists: choices that roadway users make to drive impaired, unaware, or in an inattentive manner, and riders who ride impaired, untrained, or without proper protective gear. NCSA data show that approximately 55 percent of motorcycle rider fatalities involve a crash with another vehicle. Of those crashes, almost two-thirds of the time the driver of the other vehicle was shown to have been at fault.

These issues are the basis for the MSF's long-standing safety recommendations to motorcyclists. MSF recommends that all riders and prospective riders:

1.  Get trained and licensed
2.  Wear protective gear
3.  Ride unimpaired
4.  Ride within your limits
5.  Be a lifelong learner

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is committed to making motorcycling safer and more enjoyable by ensuring access to lifelong quality education and training for current and prospective riders, and by advocating a safer riding environment.

About MSF

Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation(R) (MSF) has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider education courses, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio/Vespa, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha. For RiderCourse(SM) locations, call 800.446.9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org.