[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 614 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 614

  Supporting the goals of a National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness 
                                 Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 30, 2004

Mrs. Musgrave submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
           the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals of a National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness 
                                 Month.

Whereas the United States is the world leader in motorcycle safety, promoting 
        education, training, and motorcycle awareness;
Whereas motorcycles occupy a very important position in the history of this 
        Nation and of the world;
Whereas over two-thirds of car-motorcycle crashes and nearly one-half of all 
        motorcycle crashes are caused by car drivers, not by motorcyclists;
Whereas of the 1,400 fatal car-motorcycle crashes in 2001, 36 percent involved 
        another vehicle violating the motorcyclist's right-of-way by turning 
        left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the 
        vehicle;
Whereas although the motorcycling community has made efforts to mitigate these 
        right-of-way crashes through enhancing motorcycle awareness via 
        billboards, posters, media, and other campaigns, the message to `watch 
        for motorcycles' continues to go unheeded by the general motoring 
        public;
Whereas the motorcycling community has invested considerable time and effort to 
        improve its safety record through safety initiatives such as increased 
        rider training and licensing campaigns, but many times demand for rider 
        training exceeds enrollment capacity and the programs often lack support 
        from the larger traffic safety community;
Whereas the larger traffic safety community, highway designers, law enforcement, 
        the medical community, designers of other vehicles, government, 
        researchers working in related areas, insurers, and all road users can 
        accomplish much more toward improving motorcycle safety;
Whereas the motorcycle is an efficient vehicle which conserves fuel, has little 
        impact on our overworked roads and highway system, is an important mode 
        of transportation involving such activities as commuting, touring, and 
        recreation, and promotes friendship by attracting riders from all over 
        the world through various clubs and organizations; and
Whereas due to the increased number of motorcycles on the road, it is 
        appropriate to promote motorcycle awareness and safety and to encourage 
        all individuals to safely share the roads and highways of this great 
        Nation by paying extra attention to those who ride motorcycles: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals of a 
National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, and encourages all 
people to support the efforts of the motorcycling community to improve 
motorcycle safety.
                                 <all>