Florida Motorcycle Riders Safety Alert : Harley Bikes Recalled for Brake Light Hazard
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a safety recall for November for certain models of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The recall involves 2009-2012 Touring, CVO Touring, and Trike vehicles manufactured from June 2008 through September 2011. The problem involves the rear brake light.
According to a NHTSA recall document (see link to PDF download below), the exhaust system of the Harley bikes affected may overheat the rear brake light switch. Excessive heat could potentially cause the rear brake light lamp switch to fail and/or a brake fluid leak at the switch, which could interfere with rear brake performance.
Obviously a motorcycle rider cruising down Florida I-95 or another highway, or on a Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami or other South Florida city street -- needs to have brakes and break lights that are functioning in top condition. If a brake light were to fail, car and truck drivers behind the motorcyclist might not realize the biker was slowing down. That could lead to a rear-end motorcycle accident that could be quite serious.
Florida is world famous as a favorite destination for motorcycle enthusiasts and motorcycle events. The roar of the bikes thundering down Florida roadways is unmistakable, and is a source of excitement for tourists who flock to our cities to witness the motorcycle events. As Sunrise, FL car accident injury lawyers know, motorcycle operators and passengers are at risk of serious and fatal injuries when involved in a Florida traffic accident. Statistics of note:
> In 2009, there were 402 motorcycle accident related fatalities in the state of Fla.
> This is an improvement over the 556 motorcycle accident deaths that occurred in Florida in 2008. (Though an experienced Broward County accident injury lawyer will tell you, any death on our Florida roadways is one too many. This includes motorcycle crash deaths, pedestrian traffic accident fatalities, as well as automobile accident fatalities.)
> More than half a million motorcycles are registered in the state of Florida.
(Sources: Florida Traffic Safety Facts Oct. 2010: Motorcycles; NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004-2008)
Reuters reported that more than 300,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were being recalled for the rear brake light issue (about 50K of those vehicles are located outside the U.S., the report stated). Harley-Davidson will notify owners of the affected vehicles and dealers will install a rear brake light switch kit, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin this month. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson directly (see link below).
Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney articles:
Florida Motorcycle Product Safety Recall Alert : Victory Motorcycles Recalled Due to Passenger Injury Hazard (Sept. 2011)
Sources:
SAFETY DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE NOTICES RECEIVED DURING OCTOBER 2011 (PDF)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Nov. 1, 2011
Harley-Davidson to recall over 300,000 motorcycles
Reuters via Yahoo! News Oct. 24, 2011
Related Web Content:
Harley-Davidson USA:
Contact Us and Service Recalls for H-D Owners webpages
Florida Traffic Safety Facts : Motorcycles (PDF)
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Oct. 2010
