Todie's Wild Ride II: No Lyin'- Just Some Facts!

This coin is being released to help raise awareness of motorcycle safety.
We all need to work together to make the roads a safer place.

Our message to all drivers is: Make this the first year in recent years when motorcycle fatalities do NOT increase. Help to share in the responsibility and do your part by safely 'Sharing the Road' with motorcycles.

Since 1997 motorcycle rider fatalities have increased by 89 percent from 2,116 to 4,008 in 2004. NHTSA previously released a comprehensive report in 2001 based on increases in motorcycle rider fatalities for two consecutive years (1998 and 1999). The latest 2004 data show that motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the seventh year in a row since 1997. This report is an update to the previously released report in 2001 along with more recent data from 1995 to 2004.

If the patterns seen in the analyses continue as seen from the combination of data sources, there is the likelihood that the increase in motorcycle rider fatalities will continue in the future years.

*MIC data show an increase in motorcycle ownership in the 40 and above age group and FARS data show an increase in motorcycle rider fatalities in the age group of 40 and above in the last 10 years.

*According to MIC, sales of motorcycles with larger engine sizes have increased over the past years, corresponding to FARS data where an increased number of motorcycle rider fatalities involve a motorcycle with a larger engine size.

*An increased number of motorcycle rider fatalities in the 40 and above age group were seen on rural roadways.

*Among roadway types, undivided roadways accounted for a majority of motorcycle rider fatalities.

*Speeding is one of the major contributing factors in motorcycle crashes especially among motorcycle riders under the age of 30.

*Motorcycle operators with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL or higher continue to be a major problem.

*Helmet use among fatally injured motorcycle riders has remained constant, at just above 50 percent in the last ten years.

*About two-thirds (66%) of the fatally injured motorcycles riders in States without universal helmet laws in 2004 were not wearing helmets compared to 15 percent in States with universal helmet laws.

*Among all riders, motorcycle operator fatalities under the age of 20 had larger percentages of improperly licensed riders.

This coin is in memory of Todie Phillips of Manitou Beach, MI. He passed away August 12 2008 as a result of a motorcycle accident, he was only 49 years old.