Agencies promote motorcycle safety

It would take about eight standard school buses to hold the number of motorcycle riders killed in traffic crashes in Florida in 2013.

A little more than 460 motorcyclists, including passengers, died that year, a slight increase from the 457 killed in 2012, said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.

Those deaths account for more than 19 percent of the total highway fatalities in 2013, despite motorcycle registrations representing only 3 percent of all vehicles in Florida, he said.

With the anticipated increase in motorcycle traffic during the summer months, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of Transportation are promoting May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Florida.

“More than a million drivers in Florida have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s licenses, and there are over 600,000 motorcycles registered in the state, not including all of the out-of-state motorcycle enthusiasts,” Wysocky said.

Col. David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, said regardless of an individual’s mode of transportation, safety

Tips for motorcyclists and drivers: comes first.

“Last year, there were nearly 10,000 motorcycle crashes in Florida that resulted in 440 deaths and more than 9,800 injuries,” he said. “By staying alert and using common sense and courtesy, drivers and riders alike can help to create a safer road environment for everyone.”