The National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, NAMS, is a project dedicated to furthering motorcycle safety. NAMS is sponsored by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, in conjunction with major motorcycle manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As the sport of motorcycling becomes more popular, motorcyclists on the road increase and so do motorcycle safety issues.

NAMS met during a two year period with respected motorcycle professionals and interested parties and outlined a National Agenda for future motorcycle safety. They developed recommendations in the urgent, essential, and necessary categories. Some of their concerns and recommendations were:

- Comprehensive, in-depth motorcycle studies using a common methodology to address critical questions and issues in motorcycle safety.

- Better collection of crash reports to create a standard reporting method in order to research causes and solutions.

- Publicly accessible rider education information and programs.

- Personal protective equipment guidelines.

- Motorist awareness programs that help vehicle drivers become more aware of motorcyclists.

- Representation of motorcyclists in vehicle programs for full cooperation.

The recommendations are too numerous too list in one article. To keep the issues alive, the NAMS implementation project was developed. The implementation project is a website with a forum where a registered user interested in motorcycling can voice their opinions on current issues in motorcycling. The site is specifically dedicated to furthering the recommendations of NAMS. By sharing your thoughts and knowledge as a community, this website is where it all begins.

Joining the NAMS implementation forum can be a first step for you to discover how you can lend your time and energy to improve motorcycle safety. If you are already working in ways that further NAMS, then you can use the forum for additional information and support.

To print a free copy of the NAMS Implementation Guide, click on the Motorcycle Training link below and go to the NAMS Implementation Guide.

Until next week, ride safe.

Nancy