Idaho Transporation Department Kicks Off Motorcycle Awareness Month

BOISE, Idaho - As Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month kicks off in May, local traffic safety organizations such as AAA, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), and other partners are urging drivers to be vigilant of increased motorcycle traffic on the roads with the return of warmer weather.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled than passenger vehicle occupants. "Motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see than passenger vehicles, and extra vigilance is needed to help keep riders safe," says AAA Idaho spokesman Matthew Conde.

ITD data shows that motorcycle crashes in Idaho rose to 554 in 2021, with 32 fatalities marking an 18% increase from the previous year. Serious injuries also spiked, reaching 200—a nearly 30% increase from 2020.

Josephine Middleton, Idaho Office of Highway Safety Program Manager, calls for driver responsibility, urging them to check blind spots and mirrors for motorcycles and use turn signals. ITD reports that registered motorcycles in Idaho dropped from over 56,000 before the pandemic to under 49,000 in 2020, but rose again to over 51,000 in 2021.

Drivers are advised to yield to motorcyclists at intersections, be aware of motorcycles' size potentially causing misjudgment of speed and distance, check mirrors and blind spots, increase following distance, and obey speed limits.

To promote motorcycle safety, AAA, the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety, the Boise Police Department, and High Desert Harley-Davidson are hosting a kickoff event at High Desert Harley-Davidson in Meridian on Thursday, May 4, at 11 AM.

Lane Triplett, Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety Government Affairs Director, emphasizes the need for road users to become aware of the consequences of their actions, such as cell phone use and red light running, and make positive changes.

Cpl. Kyle Wills of the Boise Police Department adds, "Whether we are on two wheels or four, whether it’s our daily commute or a road trip, we all need to look out for each other every time we use the road."