**2006 Motorcycle Safety Month Planner\
Sample Op-Ed -- 545 Words**

**Motorcycle-related fatalities are on the rise among older riders; what
needs to be done to change this?**

While motorcycle fatalities are up for all age groups, motorcyclists 40
and older account for an alarming number of motorcycle fatalities. In
the last 10 years, motorcycle fatalities have increased nearly 250
percent in the 40-and-older age group, and more than 350 percent in the
50-and-older age group.

Part of the reason for this increase in these "baby boomer" deaths is
the demographic shift of motorcycle riders and the increased horsepower
of the bikes they're riding. Two decades ago, the rider who pulled up
next to you was probably about 24 years old and riding a small dirtbike
or dual-purpose bike. Now, that rider is more likely to be about 40
years old, and riding a larger, more powerful cycle.

Other contributing crash factors can include inexperience. Many older
motorcyclists are returning to riding after many years away from the
sport, but they're relying on the skill sets that they had when they
were 20, instead of taking a motorcycle safety refresher course. Older
riders' eyesight, hearing and reflexes have also changed and these
changes can have a direct impact on their riding ability. Increasing age
also brings with it a greater degree of fragility so that in any given
crash, an older motorcyclist may suffer more-severe injuries than a
younger motorcyclist might, and these injuries usually take longer to
recover from.

Alcohol also plays a huge role in fatal crashes, and NHTSA research
shows that many older riders who are involved in crashes are more likely
to have been drinking. In fact, the percentage of riders with a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or above was
highest for fatally injured operators between the ages of 35 and 39
(39%), followed by age 40 to 44 (38%), and age 45 to 49 (34%).
Motorcycle riding requires a cyclist's complete concentration and
special skills. Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can compromise
riding ability and contribute to a crash.

So the question is, "What can be done to change this?

There are a variety of proven countermeasures that motorcyclists -- of
all ages -- can use to increase their cycling safety. Always wearing a
helmet and the right gear, checking equipment before riding, never
drinking and riding, and getting the right training can make a big
difference in motorcyclists' safety.

Rider education programs using research-based curricula and trained
professional instructors are another way that motorcyclists can ensure
they have the correct instruction and experience to ride safely.
Programs like NHTSA's *First Care, First There* training, which teaches
people basic lifesaving techniques to employ in the event that they are
"first on the scene" of any vehicle crash, have been expanded to train
people how to care for an injured motorcyclist.

Development and implementation of "Share the Road" initiatives designed
to teach motorists and motorcyclists that they both have a right to be
on the road and are responsible for each other's safety can also have an
impact on the numbers of crash-related fatalities and injuries.