“I love motorcyclists and I love motorcycling, but motorcyclists don’t necessarily love me,” he told the crowd of more than 200 law-enforcement personnel, transportation researchers, policy makers, public health officials, traffic engineers and other safety professionals from around the state. “I will tell anybody, wear a helmet, wear the right clothing, and get yourself into a riding class. Because statistically speaking, you’re on two wheels, so you’re at a physical disadvantage. Why stack the odds against yourself even more?”

Strickland informed the group that motorcyclists also have a much higher rate of riding impaired when compared to passenger-vehicle drivers. And, although Texas crash fatality rates have steadily decreased over the last several years, that’s not the case where motorcycles are concerned. “The fatality rate with motorcycles is really keeping Texas back in term of overall fatalities.”

“While we saw a decline in motorcycle deaths for the first time in over a decade in 2009, we must continue our efforts to promote sharing the road safely and watching out for motorcycles,” says Patricia Turner of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety. “The most recent statistics show that motorcycle fatalities increased by 10 percent, from 435 in 2010 to 479 in 2011.”

An entire session of this year’s Traffic Safety Conference was dedicated to motorcycle safety. Speakers for the session included Turner and Jude Schexnyder, chair of the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition.

“Motorcyclists are 25 more times more likely than passengers in cars to be killed in an accident, and they are five times more likely to be injured,” TxDOT Deputy Executive Director John Barton said during his speech at the opening session of the conference.

Barton informed the crowd that he was involved in a crash with a motorcyclist in 1997. “I flat out did not see them,” he said, adding that motorcycle safety programs like Share the Road, are necessary. “It’s important for all of us to remind each other that we have to pay attention and we have to take a second look.”

For more information about how to help ensure motorcycling is safe for both rider and driver, check out Look Learn Live.org. Also, visit and “Like” our Look Learn Live.org Facebook page.

Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) Research Scientist Patricia Turner leads the projects, which range from increasing driver awareness of motorcycles to expanding educational opportunities for motorcycle training instructors.

“The key to keeping the downward trend for motorcycle fatalities in Texas is education and outreach,” said Karen Peoples, TxDOT’s Interim Motorcycle Safety Project Manager.

“This includes making sure that all motorcycle safety trainers and instructors have access to professional development opportunities,” said Peoples.  “We need more and better qualified instructors to meet the growing demand for rider training courses, especially now that everyone must complete the course to get a motorcycle license or endorsement.”

“We  are very excited to be working with TxDOT to improve rider safety,” Turner said. “We’ve made a lot of progress over the past several years, but motorcyclists still account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, so it’s important that we continue our efforts.”

The Center’s motorcycle projects include:

Increasing recruitment/retention of motorcyclist safety training instructors

This project addresses the need for a more efficient way to deliver training and recertification to qualified motorcycle safety course instructors and trainers. TTI will work collaboratively with TxDOT and Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) to conduct eight regionally diverse professional development workshops. TTI will also will film and produce several “on-bike” training videos to use in a web-based motorcycle safety instructor certification program currently under development.

Statewide motorist awareness and motorcycle safety outreach

Over several years, TTI has worked with TxDOT and the TxDPS to develop and promote public information messages and educational materials for drivers and riders to improve motorcyclist safety and reduce the number of motorcycle crashes and related injuries. This project continues these efforts through the implementation of a statewide motorist awareness and motorcyclist safety outreach program.  The project includes updating / developing motorist and rider awareness materials, including those associated with the “Share the Road,” “Take the Course,” “Ride Safe,” and “Drink.Ride.Lose.” campaigns; facilitating meetings, including the annual motorcycle safety forum, for the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition (TMSC), Board, and standing committees; maintaining and updating the motorcycle safety website, www.looklearnlive.org ; and distributing and promoting campaign materials and messages at public events, motorcycle gatherings, rallies, and conferences.

 Texas law enforcement motorcycle safety and enforcement training course conversion

Law enforcement play a significant role in reducing unsafe motorcycle riding through the enforcement of traffic laws and the promotion of safe riding behaviors and safe driving practices around motorcycles. Under a FY 2011 grant, TTI developed the State of Texas Law Enforcement Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Training course. The course informs officers about motorcycle laws, safety issues, and enforcement strategies to aid in reducing motorcycle crashes and injuries. This project involves the conversion of the classroom-based curriculum into a web-based training (WBT) program with the goal of reaching a larger number of Texas peace officers more efficiently.

For more information, contact Patricia Turner at (979) 458-2619 or p-turner@tamu.edu.