Motorcycle Safety

Harley-Davidson's Julie Chichlowski has been appointed the new Chair of the Board for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). She succeeds former MSF Chair of the Board David Edwards, who retired in April of 2009 from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. after 38 years of service.

The first weekend in May saw women riders around the world banding together to share the open road, as well as flocking to new rider training courses around the country to help establish a world record--all to kick start Women Riders Month.

Harley-Davidson's Women Riders Month kicked-off with two special events in New York City and Milwaukee respectively in honor of International Female Ride Day on May 1, which was founded by Vicki Gray of Motoress.com to celebrate the millions of women who have already grabbed life by the handlebars.

Motorcycle Safety Achievment in Design

Motorcycle safety equipment has come a long way from the pudding-bowl helmets and unreinforced leathers of yesteryear, providing significantly better protection with plastic armor inserts, abrasion-resistant materials, range-limiting joint and neck protection, and of course, superior helmets. However, injuries still occur, sometimes serious.

Just days ago, a bus driver was caught on video texting for six minutes before crashing into a sports utility vehicle that had stopped in traffic. The driver of the SUV suffered neck injuries, but luckily no one was killed due to the bus driver's negligence. Caught Texting Video

Had it been a motorcycle the bus plowed into, the results might have been far more deadly. This is just one example of the inherent dangers motorcyclists face every day on the road - the danger of other motorists.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's mission is to make the nation's streets and highways safer for motorcyclists through rider training programs, operator licensing programs, and public information campaigns. While these priorities continue year-round, May is designated Motorcycle Awareness Month, which provides the MSF an additional opportunity to enhance drivers' awareness of motorcyclists who share the road with them just as the spring riding season kicks off.

The full U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously yesterday to pass a resolution (H. Res. 269) supporting the goals of May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The measure, introduced by Reps. Giffords, D-Ariz., and Burgess, R-Texas, also encourages all road users to be more aware of motorcycles, all riders to get trained and ride responsibly and recognizes the contribution that motorcycles make to our nation's transportation mix.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing House Resolution 269 today, which designates May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

In addition to the designation, H.R. 269 highlights several safety measures for motorcyclists, including the voluntary use of helmets and other protective gear, avoiding riding while under the influence of alcohol, and getting proper training and licensing before operating a motorcycle on public roads.

As spring fever sets in, millions of motorcyclists are taking to highways and back roads across the United States. In recognition of May Motorcycle Awareness Month, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) reminds all motorcyclists to follow these five critical safety messages:

1. Get Trained and Licensed - Take an MSF RiderCourse and get licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800) 446-9227.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) today announced its recognition of the Kevin Schwantz School, making it the first outside training curriculum to receive this distinction by the MSF. Founded by 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz in 2001, the school has recently relocated to the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is pleased to announce its participation in the third annual National Capital Region Joint Services motorcycle safety event on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Last year's event drew hundreds of bikers, enthusiasts, and an assortment of guest speakers including congressional staff, military commanders, and Hollywood actress and rider Catherine Bell.

California Motorcyclist Safety Program Resources.

The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) has launched a significantly enhanced version of its website, www.ca-msp.org. The CMSP is a motorcyclist-funded, state-operated program administered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) under contract with the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Looking to spend a couple of days playing in the dirt? Well, look no further than MotoVentures. Located just 30 minutes from Temecula, Calif., owner Gary La Plante has 300 acres of private land for you to indulge in everything from Trials to Motocross, as well as taking an extended tour on the dual-sport motorcycle of your choice.