AGENCIES KICKING OFF SUMMER WITH MOTORCYCLE ENFORCEMENT
Safety Officials Urge Motorcyclists: Slow Down and Ride Sober
[ST. PAUL] -- As thousands of motorcycle riders hit the roads this
summer, law enforcement agencies statewide will ramp up patrols on
Saturday, June 20 for enhanced motorcycle enforcement to combat impaired
and speeding riders. To help reverse a deadly trend in motorcycle
crashes, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging
motorists to stay alert and motorcyclists to ride safely.
The enforcement falls against a backdrop of 72 rider deaths in 2008, the
most in 24 years, and a record number of motorcycles on the road.
Minnesota has reached an all-time high in motorcycle ownership --
225,000 motorcycles are registered in the state, an increase of 100
percent in the last 12 years.
The statewide effort will include nearly 400 law enforcement agencies
and set a tone for summer that impaired and speeding riders have no
place on Minnesota roadways. According to a spokesperson from DPS, "Two
common factors in motorcycle crashes are speed and alcohol. Those things
are completely within the rider's control." Each year, about one-third
of riders killed in crashes were impaired by alcohol.
June through September is the deadliest time on our roadways for
motorcyclists. Over the past five years, 68 percent of riders were
killed during this time period. More than half of all motorcycle crashes
are single-vehicle events in which the rider loses control of the bike
and runs off the road or crashes.
DPS stresses the importance of safety training and wearing proper riding
gear: eye protection, helmet, boots, gloves, jacket, and long pants.
Every rider should take a safety course, wear brightly colored riding
gear and position themselves carefully to make themselves more visible
to other drivers.
Tips and information to increase visibility are available at
www.HighViz.org. For rider training and safety information, call
800-407-6677 or visit www.motorcyclesafety.org.
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I am so pleased they got my memo and are taking action. Now if I can just get WI, MI, ND, WY and MT on board, we'll really be able to control behavior (I've already got the OPP excited and prepared).
Thanks alot, our OPP are excited enought with their new found powers.
I,m on the road early Thurs. AM to get over to Lakeville. Please remove all deer off your roads and get rid of any thunder storms Thanks.
Looking forward to meeting all of you Friday nite.
