"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Saturday, May 25th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
MOTORCYCLIST DEATHS OUTPACING LAST YEAR'S 24-YEAR HIGH
Tue, Aug 4th, 2009
Posted in State of Minnesota
Posted in State of Minnesota
Comments
ST. PAUL - Safety officials remind motorcyclists and motorists to drive carefully and share the road, as thousands of riders hit the highway for the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD, which begins next week. August and September are historically high in motorcyclist deaths.
To-date in 2009, 27 riders have died on Minnesota roads, compared to 25 at this time last year. There were 72 motorcyclist fatalities in 2008, the most since 1985. Motorcycles make up less than 5 percent of all registered vehicles, but represented nearly 16 percent of the 455 motor vehicle fatalities last year. There are nearly 225,000 registered motorcycles in Minnesota, a record high.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports the most common factors attributed to motorcycle riders in crashes are speed, inexperience, inattention and impairment-all within the rider's control. Motorcyclists should slow down, ride within their limits, stay focused and ride sober. Last year, 47 percent of riders killed had been using alcohol-42 percent were over the legal limit of .08.
Vehicle drivers also share responsibility for motorcyclists' safety. According to Cheri Marti, director of the DPS Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), nearly half of all motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Marti emphasizes that because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, it is more difficult to judge their speed and distance. "Watch carefully for motorcycle riders this weekend, and expect to see them throughout the summer and well into fall," says Marti.
The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, an OTS program, offers expert riding tips and training for new, returning and advanced riders. For more information or to sign up for a training course, call 800-407-6677 or visit www.motorcyclesafety.org. Tips for riders to be more visible in traffic can be found at www.HighViz.org.
To-date in 2009, 27 riders have died on Minnesota roads, compared to 25 at this time last year. There were 72 motorcyclist fatalities in 2008, the most since 1985. Motorcycles make up less than 5 percent of all registered vehicles, but represented nearly 16 percent of the 455 motor vehicle fatalities last year. There are nearly 225,000 registered motorcycles in Minnesota, a record high.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports the most common factors attributed to motorcycle riders in crashes are speed, inexperience, inattention and impairment-all within the rider's control. Motorcyclists should slow down, ride within their limits, stay focused and ride sober. Last year, 47 percent of riders killed had been using alcohol-42 percent were over the legal limit of .08.
Vehicle drivers also share responsibility for motorcyclists' safety. According to Cheri Marti, director of the DPS Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), nearly half of all motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Marti emphasizes that because motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, it is more difficult to judge their speed and distance. "Watch carefully for motorcycle riders this weekend, and expect to see them throughout the summer and well into fall," says Marti.
The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, an OTS program, offers expert riding tips and training for new, returning and advanced riders. For more information or to sign up for a training course, call 800-407-6677 or visit www.motorcyclesafety.org. Tips for riders to be more visible in traffic can be found at www.HighViz.org.