Insurance group seeks requirement for ABS on bikes

If the insurance industry has its way, all motorcycles sold in the U.S. will be equipped with anti-lock brakes.

The research arm of the vehicle insurance industry wants the federal government to require anti-lock brakes on all motorcycles sold in the U.S.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, citing findings that ABS reduces the number of and severity of bike crashes, "is seeking a federal requirement that manufacturers equip all new motorcycles with this technology," according to an IIHS official statement.

"Traveling on 2 wheels instead of 4 is always riskier, but our new research shows that antilock brake technology can make motorcycle riding a much safer way to get around,"  said IIHS president Adrian Lund.

ABS often adds between $800 and $1,200 to the cost of a motorcycle model on which it is available as an option, according to a survey of manufacturers' Web sites and price lists.

Consumer Reports, the independent company that tests vehicles and products for reliability and safety, posted  a blog statement supporting the forced ABS request.

"We’ve commented before that we would like to see ABS offered on more motorcycles and for it to become more affordable," the blog states.  "In particular, there is the need for this important safety feature on smaller, entry-level motorcycles that are likely to be chosen by newer, less experienced riders. Having a NHTSA mandate on this issue would contribute greatly to the well-being of all riders."

IIHS studies released in March indicated ABS bikes  are 37 percent less likely to be in fatal crashes per 10,000 registered vehicle years.  The agency's offshoot, the Highway Loss Data Institute, analyzed insurance claims filed for crash damage to motorcycles and ABS bikes have 22 percent fewer claims for crash damage per insured vehicle year.

The IIHS asked the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration in 2008 to require ABS, but NHTSA officials said another year of study was needed, IIHS officials said.

"NHTSA has what it needs to move forward with a regulation," Lund said.

IIHS brought up 2008 crash statistics nationwide that showed motorcycle fatalities had increased. While recognizing 2009 data that indicates deaths have dropped, insurance industry officials said the technology was still needed.

"Both motorcyclists and motorcycle manufacturers are showing increasing support for ABS," Lund said in a letter to the NHTSA's adminstrator, David Strickland, referring to a phone interview of 1,818  to determine nationwide trends in motorcycling. "More than half of the motorcyclists said safety is enhanced by ABS compared with conventional brakes, and 54 percent said they would get ABS on their next motorcycles."