The following questions were asked of Indiana's legislators during our annual
ABATE Day at the State House on January 26, 2010:

12 Questions from Indiana Motorcyclists

1. Do you know that Indiana’s current statute regarding motorcycle handlebars dates back 50 years?
Yes No

2. Do you know that 15 states have absolutely no regulation referencing motorcycle handlebar height?
Yes No

3. Do you know that 19 states allow for motorcycle handlebars that are shoulder height or greater?
Yes No

4. Do you know that Indiana motorcycle fatalities declined in 2009? Yes No

5. Do you know that motorized bicycle (moped) fatalities have increased in Indiana each of the last three years? Yes No

6. Do you know that 19 people died in Indiana motorized bicycle crashes in 2009? Yes No

7. Do you know that numerous municipalities have created, or are discussing the creation of, local ordinances addressing these motor vehicles, wherein a rider could travel from one jurisdiction to the next and not be aware that the rules governing this mode of transportation have changed? Yes No

8. Do you know that ABATE of Indiana has been offering rider education courses since 1978, a full 9 years prior to the inception of the state legislated, Indiana Motorcycle Operator Safety Education ­Program in 1987, which ABATE was instrumental in creating and lobbying in support of. Yes No

9. Do you know that ABATE of Indiana’s Motorcycle Safety Division has achieved a customer satisfaction rating in excess of 99% and delivers training at one of the lowest cost per student rates in the nation?
Yes No

10. Do you know that ABATE of Indiana, our Motorcycle Safety Division, our Motorcycle Safety Instructors and support staff have been recognized with more than 100 national awards and are viewed as international leaders in the field of motorcycle safety? Yes No

11. Do you know that due to innovative scheduling Indiana has been identified as one of only 17 states without a training capacity problem. Yes No

12. Do you know that in 2008 there were 200,387 motorcycles registered in Indiana, each of which paid $7.00 into the Indiana Motorcycle Operator Safety Education Program, a non-reverting, dedicated fund generated by motorcyclists and not general fund dollars, which would amount to $1,402,709? Did you know that even though the budget appropriates only $1,024,484 in each year of this biennial budget, even less, $655,000, is allowed for use to actually conduct the life-saving training for ­riders?
Yes No

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Please offer your support of Hoosier motorcyclists during this session and beyond by supporting SB 31 to modernize the law concerning handlebar height, and joining other legislators in recommending an interim study this summer to further evaluate the issues addressed in these 12 questions.

Should you have any questions pertaining to motorcycles, or the people that ride them, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Jay Jackson, Executive Director, ABATE of Indiana