Motorcycle deaths increased for the ninth straight year, especially involving older riders, and for the first time exceeded pedestrian deaths. The NHTSA figures show 4,810 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,576 in 2005.

Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, said his organization was very disappointed about the increased motorcycle fatalities, saying the data showed "no sign that the trend is going to get anything but worse."

States need to implement laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, Adkins said. Currently, only 20 states and the District of Columbia require riders to wear protective helmets.

This is a preliminary report from the NHTSA, more details to follow at a later date.

Causes?

While it is likely a large number of motorcyclists who end up as traffic statistics weren't following basic safety rules, it's also true that inattention by car and truck drivers plays a major role in those crashes.

Speeding is the No. 1 contributor to injuries and fatalities

State and federal statistics show that when alcohol or drugs — which together make up the second-most-common cause of motorcycle fatalities — are taken out of the equation, the most common mistakes made by motorcyclists are poorly negotiated turns and traveling on the wrong side of the road.

Then there's sharing the road with other motorists. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a nonprofit organization funded by the motorcycle industry, says the motorist is usually at fault in multi-vehicle collisions involving a motorcyclist. "Assume you're invisible to the cars around you" is the first lesson taught in training courses.