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I was driving behind a car yesterday that had a bumper sticker reminding drivers to watch out for motorcycles. It upset me a little bit, because to me that implies that accidents involving motorcycles are always the fault of drivers in cars and trucks. I have not found that to be the case, especially lately.

Here in Florida, there is a topic that is garnering a lot of attention – especially from bikers. Local news broadcasts last night were chock full of interviews with bikers in the area laying out their opinion on the new bill filed in the Florida House that proposes that riders charged with reckless driving or exceeding the speed limit by 50 mph can be arrested and have their vehicles seized. The riders could also have their licenses suspended for up to ten years.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami. He points out that it is not just the fact that riders put themselves at risk with reckless driving, but they also endanger others. There were 119 deaths caused by motorcycles in Florida in 2006, and that is just the report for the urban areas. In those 119 deaths, all but ten involved motorcycles moving up to three times the posted speed limit.

Speed brings up another issue. Lopez-Cantera admits that stopping a biker going 120 mph is difficult. He points out, though, that police are allowed to follow bikers in helicopters and unmarked cars until they stop. So, it’s not impossible.

Florida’s chapter of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE) does not like the proposed law. James “Doc” Reichenbach, the group’s president, says it is going to be a problem if it comes down to taking away a rider’s bike.

“(And that’s) if they catch them. They can’t catch them now,” Reichenbach said.

A pretty flippant remark, wouldn’t you agree?

Locally, the spotlight has really been on deaths caused by motorcycle riders.

My sister and her son passed a terrible accident on U.S. 19 Monday that involved a high performance bike. It turns out that Craig Hales (22) was riding a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle at more than 100 mph when he hit a sport utility vehicle with a force that caused the SUV to flip. Both Hales and driver of the SUV died as their vehicles went up in flames. The bodies were not even immediately identified, because they were so badly mangled.

On Wednesday, Lawrence Kwiatkowski (29) was killed in Largo when his Yamaha R1-1000 motorcycle hit a large pickup. Just here in Pinellas County there were at least three other deaths involving motorcyclists in the past month.

With high gas prices and cars becoming more expensive, it makes sense that people are turning to motorcycles for their personal transportation. My issue is with riders who don’t obey the laws of the road. How many times have I started to change lanes, seen nobody behind me within sight and then had a speeding bike come up on me within seconds? I remember seeing one a couple of months ago that quite literally looked like a cartoon blur as it passed me. I see biker pop wheelies, ride in between lanes and cut off other drivers.

In Florida, anyone over 21 only has to pass a written and skills test to get a motorcycle endorsement on their license. There is no additional training needed unless you are under 21. As of July 21, though, all drivers of any age who do not already have their motorcycle endorsement will have to do a training program to ride or register a motorcycle in their name.

The problem, though, seems to be with riders who do not have a respect for the law. I know that does not include all riders, but consider that Hales had been ticketed for speeding four times in the past five years. When he died Monday, his license had been suspended indefinitely, but that had not kept him off the roads.

Add all of that to the fact that there is not currently a helmet law in Florida and you have a recipe for disaster. Of course, when a biker is traveling at more than 100 mph when they crash, a helmet is not going to save them. I feel like the proposed legislation is a good move forward. I think, though, that there should also be a bill proposed that would target drivers of other vehicles who drive recklessly and speed to excess. Why should they not have their cars taken way as well? Perhaps that would have kept someone like Nick Hogan, Hulk Hogan’s son, off the roads so that his accident in August of last year may have been avoided.

My beef is with the bikers who speed, cut me off, drive between lanes and generally treat our public roads like their personal playground. I am the first person who will stop at a light and admire the bike pulled along beside me. I love motorcycles in general, but I loathe the foolish riders who are making our roads so much more dangerous.