Research indicating antilock brakes on motorcycles might save lives

Posted on May 29, 2010

Antilock brakes on motorcycles may me the next required safety feature, reducing the chances that motorcycle riders are killed or injured in a crash. Research shows that antilock brakes significantly cut down on motorcycle accidents, which leads to fewer injuries and deaths.

The research on motorcycle antilock brakes was funded by the Institute for Highway Safety, a group funded by insurers. They are now using this research to lean on the federal government, asking that they make antilock brakes a requirement for all new motorcycles.

One of the main findings in the report was that motorcycles with antilock brakes were 37 percent LESS LIKELY to be involved in a fatal crash per 10,000 registered vehicle years (a registered vehicle year is one vehicle insured for one year, or two for six months, or three in four months, etc).

Why do antilock brakes make such an difference? Motorcycles are more challenging to stop in some cases than cars. In a car, to stop all the driver has to do is apply the brakes using one pedal. In a motorcycle, the front and rear wheels usually have separate brake controls, so it is up to the rider to use the correct combination of front and rear braking to come to a safe stop.

Antilock brakes help motorcycle riders by reducing brake pressure when they sense that a lockup is imminent. When traction is restored and a brake lock up is no longer an issue, antilock brakes restore pressure.

***Hurt in a Virginia motorcycle wreck? Let our attorneys help!***