“For every action there is a reaction.” That’s an adage that often proves itself. The action in this case is the high price of gasoline. The reaction is a spike in motorcycle sales. The reaction to that action, in turn, has produced a safety problem.

With gasoline priced at well over $4 per gallon and headed for $5, many Americans are looking at the two-wheelers as a means to save money. Since motorcycles easily get between 40 and 60 miles to the gallon, the buyers expect an immediate reduction of the strain on their pocketbooks.

Last year 1.1 million motorcycles were sold in the United States, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, a trade association. This was a 30 percent increase over 2001. At the same time, however, motorcycle-related fatalities jumped by 50 percent. (The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tallied 4,810 motorcycle deaths in 2006, the latest year for which it has exact figures. That compares with 3,197 in 2001. In 2006, motorcycle deaths also surpassed pedestrian deaths for the first time.

Unlike the seasoned bikers who attend the spring rally near Piercy and who, for the most part, are very safety-conscious, first-time motorcycle owners who have not had safety training may not realize that small obstacles — such as puddles and gravel — which cause automobile drivers no concern, can be fatal hazards. Speed and following too closely are other hazards. Motorcycle riders must always be aware that it is sometimes hard for motorists or truck drivers to see them.

If you’re thinking of buying a motorcycle, don’t let that action end in a reaction in the form of an ambulance picking you up off the pavement.