Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Month declared
Gov. Jim Doyle has designated May as Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Month in Wisconsin.
Motorcycles are popular statewide for recreation and basic transportation. Nearly 485,000 Wisconsin residents have motorcycle licenses or permits and more than 382,000 motorcycles are registered in the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
“With the start of the spring riding season, motorcycles are rapidly returning to our streets and highways.
To prevent crashes, motorists need to share the road and watch for motorcycles in traffic, especially at intersections and while making turns or lane changes,” said Greg Patzer, manager of the DOT Motorcycle Safety Program, in a press release announcing the proclamation.
Efforts to prevent motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin through rider training, traffic safety education, and law enforcement have shown success. According to preliminary statistics from DOT, there were 2,347 motorcycle crashes last year compared with 2,829 in 2008, which is a 17 percent decrease. Last year, 84 motorcycle drivers and passengers were killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes compared with 88 deaths in 2008. Incapacitating injuries due to motorcycle crashes also decreased from 715 in 2008 to 601 in 2009, which is 16 percent reduction.
“Although injuries and deaths in motorcycle crashes declined last year, our ultimate goal is zero preventable traffic deaths in Wisconsin.” says Patzer. “Education and training continue to be our most important tools for improving motorcycle safety. To improve their safe driving skills, motorcycle riders, especially those who have not ridden for many years, should consider taking a motorcycle safety course. We hope to train more riders than ever this year.”
The Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program has provided rider training through the state technical colleges for 28 years and has graduated more than 120,000 riders since 1982.
For more information about the motorcycle safety program and rider training programs, visit the DOT Web site.
