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The INDEPENDENT, September 19, 2012
ODOT and Team Oregon offer tips to prevent motorcycle fatalities
According to preliminary re-
ports from the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation, there
were 13 people killed in motor-
cycle related crashes in Ore-
gon in August. That’s the high-
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est in one month since 1986.
Most of the crashes can be at-
tributed to motorcycle driver er-
ror such as speeding, improper
cornering maneuver or im-
paired driving.
“Motorcycling is different
from driving a car – you need a
higher level of skill and aware-
ness than you do in a passen-
ger vehicle,” said Pat Hahn,
Communications and Outreach
Manager with TEAM OREGON
Motorcycle Safety Program. “It
doesn’t matter whether you’re
a first time rider or a seasoned
expert, motorcycle training will
help take your skills to a higher
level.”
ODOT-approved motorcycle
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safety courses are provided by
the TEAM OREGON Motorcy-
cle Safety Program. Since
1997, Oregon law has required
all riders under 21 to complete
a TEAM OREGON Basic Rider
Training course as part of the
endorsement process. In 2009,
the Oregon Legislature passed
a phased-in mandatory training
requirement for new riders.
Currently, new riders age 21-40
must take either the Basic or
Intermediate Rider Training
course. Those under 21 must
take the Basic Rider Training
course. Additional age groups
will be phased in as follows:
• Jan. 1, 2013 – All new rid-
ers under age 51,
• Jan. 1, 2014 – All new rid-
ers under age 61,
• Jan. 1, 2015 – All new rid-
ers no matter what age.
The hope is that as more
people go through training, the
number of crashes will decline.
ODOT and TEAM OREGON
offer tips for motorcyclists:
• Remember that operating
a motorcycle is much more
complex than driving a car. It
takes an estimated 2,500 tasks
to ride a motorcycle and only
800 to drive a car. That’s why
it’s so important to not drink
and ride. If you stop at a drink-
ing establishment, have non-al-
coholic drink instead of beer or
wine.
• Realize that conditions
such as heat, cold or fatigue
can impair your ability to pay
attention and respond to road
hazards.
• Riding in groups or carry-
ing a passenger can be very
distracting. Stay focused on
managing the roadway and
traffic.
• Don’t overestimate your
ability to take corners. Speed-
ing and cornering kills more
motorcyclists than any other
combination.
• Take a motorcycle training
course. Visit http://team-ore
gon.org/ to see the latest class
schedules and locations and to
register.
Additional data include pre-
liminary motorcycle related fa-
talities for 2012 year-to-date –
34 and total motorcycle related
fatalities for 2011 – 40. Average
age of motorcyclist killed in Au-
gust 2012 in Oregon – 45.
Of the 13 people killed in
motorcycle crashes in August
2012 in Oregon, 12 were men
and one was a woman.