22 Dead Motorcyclists Since May

Twenty two motorcyclists have died on Utah roadways since May and statistics show that youthful indiscretion was not the primary cause. Two of the fatalities were teenagers, but the majority of the others were riders between 40 and 60 years old. It appears that most of the accidents were caused by riders taking turns too fast.

To address the problem, the Utah Highway Patrol has been stressing the need for proper training and protective clothing. At a press conference held last week at a Harley Davidson dealership in Salt Lake City, a UHP colonel, a motorcycle safety instructor and an emergency room nurse encouraged all riders to wear helmets, heavy durable clothing such as leather or reinforced nylon, and navigate turns slowly and safely. They also promoted rider safety courses for riders of all ages.

Courses such as those offered by the Utah Department of Public Safety, Utah Rider Education and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation are not hard to find. You can also find some great safety videos on line if taking a hands on course is not an option.

This one is short but good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-SxHxW5xcQ

This one is longer and very graphic so exercise caution in deciding if you or your kids want to watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gfNfh9kpgM

One more good one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1MH5sI-S3o

And this one highlights one critical thing to remember – you need a license to ride a motorcycle. All of the Utah licensing requirements can be found here. Get training, be prepared and ride safely.