The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center was created by the legislature in 1983, one of the nation's first comprehensive state safety programs for motorcyclists. Its mission includes training, testing and research, as well as public outreach. The funding for MMSC comes from fees motorcyclists pay and the bikers zealously guard the fund from political interference.
In February, according to Kare 11 News, threats surfaced that these funds may be at risk. Bikers feared that as part of Governor Pawlenty’s 1.2 billion budget cut proposal, a portion of the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Fund would be diverted to compensate for the state’s deficit.
However, bikers came together through American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education (ABATE) of Minnesota to lobby legislators. ABATE of Minnesota works to maintain and defend the rights and freedoms of all motorcyclists in the state. Among other things, the organization advocates on behalf of motorcycle safety training programs and seeks to increase awareness of motorcyclists on Minnesota roads.
Ultimately, the organization had a successful lobbying day, with more than 500 motorcyclists turning out to make their voices heard. This is good news; motorcyclist safety should be a high priority for state legislators, and the fees bikers pay should be directed toward these efforts.
The Role of the Minnesota Motorcyclist Safety Center
After the MMSC was created, Minnesota initially experienced a dramatic reduction in motorcyclist deaths, but has since seen motorcyclist deaths increase. Seventy-two motorcyclists died in 2008 and 52 in 2009, compared to the all-time low of 24 in 1991 and a high of 121 before MMSC.
With motorcycle season just getting under way in Minnesota, the MMSC is urging bikers to enroll in bike safety training or brush-up courses. The message is a particularly salient one, as Minnesota has already recorded several biker crashes this year. Biker safety courses teach skills such as steering, swerving and stopping quickly in an emergency — skills that experts say are more difficult to perfect on motorcycles than when driving cars.
In addition to encouraging riders to take safety courses, MMSC has employed an advertising campaign to encourage bikers to dress conspicuously, in recognition of statistics showing that half of all motorcycles crashes involve motor vehicles. Too often motorists indicate that they did not see the motorcyclist until it was too late to prevent a crash. By wearing reflective gear and dressing in bright colors, rather than in dark colors as traditionally preferred by many riders, motorcyclists can improve their visibility and reduce the frequency of motorcycle accidents.
Although helmets are not required under Minnesota law, they can provide significant benefits for motorcycle riders. Clearly, they can provide protection in the event of a crash. Additionally, helmets can be used to increase visibility; the MMSC encourages those riders who choose to wear helmets to select white helmets, as they make it easier to see riders.
Furthermore, helmets are important because the lack of a helmet can be used against a motorcycle rider in the event of a crash. When an injured rider pursues a personal injury claim, if the rider was not wearing a helmet, the opposing attorney can introduce the rider’s lack of helmet. These attorneys will often argue that the injuries would have been less severe if the motorcyclist had been wearing a helmet.
Of course, the safety of motorcyclists is also dependent on the awareness of other drivers. Tragically, many car drivers don’t think to look for motorcycle riders, thereby causing motorcycle crashes. For those injured in motorcycle accidents and those who have lost loved ones in these crashes, it is important to work with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who understands the complexities of handling these cases.
