MAY 1, 2006

Secretary Land, traffic safety advocates promote May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

With the start of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is asking motorcyclists to make sure they are properly licensed before riding.

"A motorcycle endorsement is required to legally ride on public roads," Land said during a Capitol news conference. "It also guarantees that the rider’s skills have been evaluated – either through a motorcycle safety course or road skills testing. There are no substitutes for training, proper licensing, riding gear and experience when it comes to motorcycle safety."

All motorcycle riders must take a knowledge test and successfully complete a motorcycle safety class or pass a skills test with a third-party examiner before a motorcycle endorsement is issued. The endorsement is designated as "CY" on a driver’s license. A motorcycle safety course is required for 16- and 17-year-olds and for adults who fail the rider skills test twice.

Traffic safety advocates and motorcycle enthusiasts flanked Land as she shared this year’s campaign message of "Respect the Ride – Share the Road" for motorists and motorcyclists. Michigan State University’s Pylon Raiders Precision Riding Team, directed by Dr. Dan Lee, performed a series of maneuvers to demonstrate how important practice, experience and skill are in handling a motorcycle.

Motorcycling is gaining in popularity, especially among women. In 2000, there were approximately 442,000 licensed motorcyclists, with women making up about 36,000 of the total. Over the last six years, the number of licensed motorcyclists increased to more than 496,000, with the number of women riders rising by 12,000.

As more people enjoy motorcycling, Land noted that a concerted effort is needed among traffic safety advocates, the motoring public and government to help lower crash rates. Preliminary traffic safety reports for 2005 indicate that motorcycle crashes have increased more than 5 percent, from about 3,300 in 2004 to 3,500 in 2005. Unfortunately, motorcycle fatalities also increased more than 50 percent over the same period, from 79 to 122.

Land thanked the Legislature for supporting her request for additional program funding. Not only did the Legislature increase the program’s base funding this year, but it also supported her request for an additional appropriation of $200,000.

About $155,000 of that $200,000 will be used to provide training opportunities for 1,200 more students this year. The remainder is being put toward the purchase of nearly 100 motorcycles, which will be used at public training sites across Michigan.

The Department of State’s Michigan Motorcycle Safety Program adheres to a curriculum based on standards set by the national Motorcycle Safety Foundation. It oversees the network of public and private motorcycle training schools. The department expects to graduate more than 10,000 motorcyclists from the nearly 50 training sites across Michigan this year.

Land recognized the critical role motorcycle safety instructors have in preparing students to ride. Michelle Valin, program coordinator for the Macomb Community College Motorcycle Safety Program was presented with a certificate saluting the school’s 25 years of motorcycle training and safety. Anne Ginther, faculty adviser for the Michigan State University Motorcycle Club, accepted a plaque on behalf of the recently re-established club for its efforts in promoting motorcycle safety among young people.

In addition, Land applauded the Washtenaw Community College’s Motorcycle Rider Education program for its 26 years of outstanding service.

Also appearing with Land at the news conference was Michael Prince, Office of Highway Safety Planning director.

"With motorcycle fatalities on the upswing, it's more important than ever that we focus on safety," Prince said. "We encourage all motorcyclists to go through training, ensure they have the proper license endorsement and always ride sober."

Secretary of State branch offices will call attention to the important message of motorcycle safety by displaying a "Share the Road" poster and placing a new motorcycle rider brochure, "CY – Get your motorcycle endorsement and stay safe," in their brochure racks.

The materials were prepared in partnership with the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

Related Links
> CY Get your motorcycle endorsement and stay safe
> Office of Highway Safety Planning Home Page
> Secretary of State Home Page