Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Gets $135K Grant to Expand Rider Education
Georgia’s Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) has received a new boost from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). DDS recently announced that GMSP will receive a $135,554.92 grant funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to expand rider education and awareness across the state【671372021734586†L160-L167】. The grant cycle runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026 and will support efforts to reduce motorcycle fatalities, promote the “Share the Road” message and make state‑approved motorcycle training more accessible【671372021734586†L164-L169】.
DDS Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon said the award recognizes the program’s effectiveness in saving lives. “Together, DDS and GOHS remain committed to promoting motorcycle safety by encouraging Georgia’s motorists and motorcyclists to ‘Share the Road.’ We are proud that the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program has once again been selected to receive this important grant, allowing us to continue providing quality rider education and training to help protect the lives of Georgia’s citizens,” she said【671372021734586†L171-L175】. GOHS Director Allen Poole echoed those remarks and connected the grant to the state’s broader traffic safety goals. He noted that innovative projects like GMSP move Georgia and the nation closer to the realistic goal of zero traffic deaths by the middle of the century【671372021734586†L178-L181】. Every life saved on the roads, he added, means one less family grieving a preventable loss.
Funds from the grant will be used to increase the reach of GMSP’s rider education courses and to encourage more drivers to look out for motorcyclists. GMSP offers three tiers of courses tailored to different experience levels: the Basic RiderCourse for beginners, the Basic RiderCourse2 for riders with some experience and the Advanced RiderCourse for seasoned riders【671372021734586†L184-L191】. Instructors provide motorcycles and helmets for novice riders, and students who successfully complete either the Basic RiderCourse or Basic RiderCourse2 earn a 90‑day waiver that exempts them from the knowledge and on‑cycle tests required to obtain a Class M license【671372021734586†L193-L195】. Program manager Holly Hegyesi emphasized that training makes a measurable difference. “Motorcycle safety classes are essential for both new and experienced riders. Nearly one‑third of motorcycle fatalities involve unlicensed or untrained riders. This grant helps ensure rider education remains accessible and affordable across Georgia,” she said【671372021734586†L197-L200】.
The grant also supports outreach campaigns to remind drivers to share the road with motorcyclists. DDS plans to use part of the funding to promote NHTSA’s national Share the Road message, which encourages motorists to check blind spots, use turn signals and give riders plenty of space【671372021734586†L164-L169】. Additional training slots and potential new training locations will make it easier for riders to enroll, particularly in rural areas where courses may currently be limited. By investing in education and awareness, DDS and GOHS hope to reverse troubling trends: motorcycle fatalities have been rising nationally, and untrained riders are disproportionately represented in crash statistics. Through continued partnership, state officials believe Georgia can become a leader in motorcycle safety and move closer to the ultimate goal of zero traffic deaths.