SMSA - Chair Chat - January 2009

Your Executive Committee continues to have monthly conference call meetings to conduct the business of the SMSA.

Ken Kiphart will continue to sit on the FHWA Motorcycle Advisory Committee.  A full report of the last meeting was sent to the membership via the list serve.  Also, Andy Krajewski has been very busy promoting SMSA at the NHSTA Motorcycle Safety Network Meeting in Washington D.C.

• The Motorcycle Industry Council launched a web page, www.helmetcheck.com in December.

• MSF has re-organized and Al Hydeman has joined the staff.  The Military Sports Bike Program should be available in 2009 and states should be able to implement in 2009.  IIHS completed a study of antilock brakes for motorcycles.

• Crash Causation Study – NHTSA will kick off its pilot study in December to determine crash categories and procedures.  Should take approximately three months.

• Conspicuity Study is trying to determine if daytime running lights on cars reduce the head light conspicuity of motorcycles.

• Brake Study will look at linked; ABS, combined braking and conventional braking to determine what braking system can positive impact motorcycle stopping procedures.

• Simulated Braking Study will use simulation to identify how motorcycles brake during simulated hazardous situations.

• 2010 Funding was given to 47 states; three states did not apply for this funding.

• North Carolina Bike Safety Program was started by the NC Highway Patrol to improve motorcycle safety in the state.  This training has reduced motorcycle crashes on NC’s five most dangerous roads by 25%.  Contact NC to get more information on this great program.

The SMSA Conference Committee has been working diligently on getting the documents updated and revised for the 2009 annual conference.  A number of items have been placed on the website for the conference.  Please take the time to review the website for the latest updates.  The Professional Development Workshops (PDW) has been decided.  The next PDWs will be Marketing and Media Relations and Highway Safety Program Guidelines and Assessments.

The Executive Committee agreed to try a different approach with the Leading Edge newsletters.  It is very difficult as everyone is very busy, to get new items from our membership.  We are going to post articles to the SMSA website as we receive them and send out a notice to the membership to review.

Till next time, Ride Safe.

Carol Thurn
SMSA Chair