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CDOT

CDOT launches new campaign to coincide with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May 14, 2021 By coridernews Leave a Comment

April 29, 2021 – Statewide Traffic Safety – 2020 was Colorado’s deadliest year on record for motorcyclists

STATEWIDE – On the heels of the deadliest year on record for motorcyclists, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is launching a new campaign aimed at keeping motorcyclists safe. May is also Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which coincides with the beginning of the riding season in the state.  

Last year, there were 137 motorcyclists killed on Colorado roadways, more than any year on record, and a 33 percent increase from 2019 when there were 103 motorcyclists killed. Although motorcycles are only 3 percent of the registered vehicles in the state, they made up 22 percent of the traffic fatalities in 2020.  

“The research and data show helmet use as the most important factor in the survivability of a motorcycle crash,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Head injuries are common in these crashes. So, whether you are riding around town or cross country, we encourage riders to always wear a helmet.”   

New data shows that 52 percent of motorcycle riders killed in 2019 were not wearing helmets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 83 motorcyclists’ lives could have been saved in Colorado between 2015-2017 if all riders had worn helmets. Instead, there were 334 motorcyclists were killed during that period, most not wearing helmets.  

“Motorcycle ownership requires great responsibility from riders with skill and gear as key ingredients,” stated Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Whether this is your first season or your fifteenth, you will enjoy the ride more as a safer, more confident rider. Don’t be content with just passing the training required for the issuance of your license, add to your knowledge and skills for advanced mastery of your motorcycle.”  The Colorado State Patrol can help riders develop new skills through the Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST). For more information, visit www.comost.com. 

In May, CDOT will launch the new Aftermath campaign to underscore the importance of wearing a helmet. The campaign will dispel misconceptions about wearing a helmet, such as they are too restrictive, by showing the devastating consequences of not wearing one. The campaign will run across the state on billboards and on social media.  Some of the images used in the campaign are here. 

CDOT also reminds drivers of cars and trucks to use caution around motorcycles. This includes carefully checking blind spots and using extra caution at intersections since motorcycles can be hard to see. In addition, it is advised that drivers never follow motorcycles too closely since a motorcyclist can stop more quickly than a car. 

In addition to wearing helmets, riders should do the following to stay safe on Colorado roads: 

  • Get a license endorsement. 
    • Getting a motorcycle license endorsement keeps the motorcyclist in compliance with state law and verifies the motorcyclist has the basic skills to operate a motorcycle on a roadway.   
  • Wear proper gear.  
    • Proper gear includes a helmet, boots that cover the ankles, riding pants and jacket, gloves and eye protection. 
  • Receive professional training.  
    • All motorcyclists should receive professional training. Long time riders are encouraged go to training classes for a refresher every few years.  
  • Follow all traffic laws.  
    • All motorcyclists are required to follow the rules of the road. In Colorado, lane splitting is illegal.  
  • Ride sober.  
    • Even one drink can decrease reaction times, coordination, vision, judgement and concentration, all of which are crucial when operating a motorcycle. 

Editor’s Note: Colorado Rider News believes that motorcycle safety gear is a choice that all motorcycle riders should have and is not endorsing the use of helmets when you ride. As a rider myself, I made a choice in 2019 to begin to wear a helmet every time I ride. Laurie Montoya, Editor and Publisher of Colorado Rider News.

Filed Under: Magazine, Safety Tagged With: CDOT, colorado department of transportation, helmet

100 Motorcycle Fatalities in Colorado

October 1, 2020 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

CDOT posted an article on the 18th of this month giving some year-to-date totals and the one that popped out to me was that our community has lost 100 motorcycle riders and is on track to surpass last year’s number of 103 fatalities.

Laurie Montoya, Publisher

As many of you know I am also the President and Founder of BikerDown Foundation and help injured motorcycle riders after an accident and/or fatality.  I decided this month to take this forum on CRN to try again to ask this motorcycle community to put in place some offensive measures, so that in the event of a motorcycle accident or fatality, you have the services you need to recover.

For years, CRN and BikerDown have put into this publication articles about increasing your motorcycle insurance to include at least 250k under or un-insured motorist coverage.   This coverage is absolutely the MOST IMPORTANT item you can have on your bike when you ride. 

Due to COVID-19, loss of work or just being down right irresponsible, at least 50% of all drivers out there are now driving without vehicle insurance.  So when (and I mean when) that driver hits you, if YOU do not have under or un-insured motorist coverage, you are literally screwed.  This will leave all the medical costs, and out-of-pocket recovery expenses UP TO YOU! 

If you have full coverage on your bike, please understand THAT ONLY COVER YOUR BIKE (maybe).  Full coverage does not mean your medical bills will be covered; it does not mean that your lost wages will be covered.  It means that you might get enough from the insurance company to fix or pay off your loan on your bike.

As the Biker Advocate for BikerDown who calls these riders or family members daily to see how BD can help them, one of the questions I routinely ask is what type of insurance did the driver have? And this week alone 3 injured riders family member told me that the driver had NO LICENSE and NO INSURANCE.

This publication has attempted since the inception to gently nudge riders thru advertising and articles to educate and give you the resources to make changes to your personal bike coverages, but I feel WE are LOSING the battle out in this biker community.  IT IS NOW TIME, TO BEG YOU and HOUND YOU to call your insurance company today and add at least $250k under or un-insured motorist.

There is still a lot of riding in 2020, and before you get on your bike in October, please MAKE A PLEDGE TODAY, to at least call your bike or vehicle insurance and CONFIRM, VERIFY and have them send you something that shows that you have under or un-insured motorist coverage.

If you do not want to do it for YOU, please do it for your FAMILY, your wife/husband, your children, your mother, or father and EVEN YOUR FRIENDS.  These are the people who will be the ones struggling to keep you going while you are recovering in the hospital.

Please forgive me this month for such an abrasive Letter from the Publisher, but we are in an epidemic of motorcycle injuries and fatalities and THE TIME IS NOW to at least have the coverages you need, so you can recover in peace.

As always enjoy the ride, let us know what we can do better and BE SAFE OUT THERE

~ Laurie Montoya, Publisher

info@coloradoridernews.com

Filed Under: BikerDown, From the Publisher, Magazine Tagged With: 10/20, BikerDown Colorado, CDOT

Colorado records its 100th Motorcycle Death for 2020

October 1, 2020 By coridernews Leave a Comment

2020 has been a difficult year, even for motorcyclists on Colorado roadways. With fatal motorcycle crashes up 12% over last year, a new partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Grease Monkey is addressing this concerning trend by reminding motorists to watch for motorcyclists.

“Since January Colorado has seen a startling increase in motorcyclist fatalities and the state is expected to exceed the number of fatalities from last year,” said Darrell Lingk, CDOT Director of the Office of Transportation Safety. “With the fall riding season approaching and many riders currently enjoying the warm weather, we are urging drivers to use caution and be aware of motorcyclists. Drivers, please remember to look twice and save a life.”

As a reminder to watch for motorcycles, Grease Monkey will be placing safety stickers on vehicles receiving oil changes at 64 Grease Monkey locations throughout Colorado. There will be 60,000 window stickers distributed over the next two months to all drivers getting their oil changed.

“Grease Monkey hopes getting this message out will help save a life,” said Wes Stephenson, president and chief operations officer for Grease Monkey. “As a motorcyclist myself, safety on Colorado’s roadways is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone needs to do their part to make the roads a safe place to drive and ride.”

With the launch of the new campaign also comes the debut of a CDOT vehicle wrapped with a safety message. The eye-catching visual depicts a motorcycle crash in which the motorcyclists is thrown from his bike.  The CDOT fleet car will be seen driving throughout the Denver metro area over the next two months.

CDOT reminds drivers to be more aware of motorcycles and suggest drivers:

Check your blind spots

Check blind spots.

Since motorcycles are much smaller than cars, it is easy for them to get lost in blind spots. Before making any lane changes, thoroughly check all blind spots and use traffic signals.

Look twice.

When making lane changes, turns, merging and other traffic changes, check twice to save a life. 

Use extra caution when turning left.

Motorcycles are smaller which makes it hard for drivers to determine their speed accurately. When making left turns, look carefully for motorcyclists as the eye is not trained to detect them, then take the time to more accurately gauge their speed before entering the intersection.

Never follow motorcyclists too closely.

Motorcycles and their riders can slow down quicker than cars. Giving riders more space than a car ensures that drivers have enough time to slow or stop.

50% of drivers say they have driven distracted

Eliminate distractions while driving.

Being mindful and aware of driving situations, changes on the roadways and other unexpected incidents increases the safety for drivers and motorcyclists.

“My son, Nick, was killed by a driver who made a left turn in front of my son on his bike,” said Debby Uberecken-Standard, who lost her son in 2014. “As a mother, driver and Colorado resident, please always look twice. Motorcyclists are not as protected as drivers and can be hard to spot. Look twice and save someone’s life.”

Facts and Statistics:

  • To date there have been 100 motorcycle fatalities in 2020. This is up 12% from 89 at the same time last year.
  • In 2019 there was a total of 103 motorcycle fatalities.
  • Motorcyclists make up 23% of all deaths on Colorado roadways yet represent just 3% of the vehicles.
  • Of the 100 motorcyclist deaths in 2020, the following counties are noteworthy:    
  • The top three counties with the most motorcycle deaths are El Paso (17 fatalities), Adams (nine fatalities), and Jefferson (nine fatalities).
  • Northern Colorado – Larimer and Weld Counties have both had seven fatalities each.
  • Southern Colorado – El Paso has had 17 fatalities and Pueblo has had seven fatalities.
  • Western Slope – Mesa County has had six fatalities. Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Montrose and Rio Blanco have each had one fatality.   

In addition to the window decals and CDOT fleet vehicle, Grease Monkey will also be placing motorcycle information in stores across the state while CDOT will be posting on social channels and running radio ads across Colorado to spread the message.

CDOT motorcycle safety efforts are part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety campaign which aims to reduce fatalities and injuries and “Bring everyone home safely.”

Filed Under: BikerDown, Breaking, Community, Magazine, Perspective, Safety Tagged With: 10/20, BikerDown Colorado, CDOT

6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

May 2, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

There is rarely a weekend in Colorado’s riding season that riders don’t ride for a good charity or cause. Motorcycle riders have always been the go-to group when a charity needs assistance. At the same time, our community also suffers an epidemic of motorcycle accidents and fatalities and the community outside of ours, rarely steps up to help us.

[Read more…] about 6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

Filed Under: Events, Magazine, Non-Profit Tagged With: 05/19, ABATE, BikerDown, CDOT, CORD, Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Look Twice Save a Life

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