Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum Brings Focus to Rider Safety Trends
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) hosted the 2026 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum on April 11, 2026, in San Marcos, Texas. The annual event brought together motorcycle riders, safety advocates and transportation professionals from across the state to discuss current trends, share research and explore strategies to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities on Texas roadways.
The Forum opened with remarks from Maurice Maness, chair of the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition and Task Force, followed by an overview of motorcycle crash trends in Texas from 2023 to 2025 by TTI Project Specialist Cathy Brooks. The presentation helped frame ongoing safety challenges and reinforced the importance of continued collaboration across the motorcycle safety community.
Discussions throughout the Forum focused on key factors influencing motorcycle safety, including rider behavior, roadway risk, training, technology and emergency response. Speakers and participants examined how these areas intersect and how coordinated efforts can help reduce crashes and improve safety on Texas roadways.
The event featured a keynote address, A Practical Path Toward Zero, delivered by Eric Teoh of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The presentation highlighted data-driven strategies to reduce roadway fatalities and improve safety for all road users.
The Forum included the 2026 Motorcycle Safety Awards presentation, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to improve rider safety. Mark Dumdie was recognized with the Champion Award for leadership in rider training and mentorship, and Dennie Spears received the Difference Maker Award for decades of service supporting the Texas riding community as an instructor and mentor.
The 2026 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum was supported by Brooks, TTI Associate Research Scientist Laura Higgins, Associate Transportation Researcher Emmy Shields, Project Specialist Kim Sailor and Communications Specialist Gracie McMahan. For more information about the Forum or to view presentations, visit https://www.looklearnlive.org/events/category/safety-forum/.
