May has been designated as Motorcycle Safety Month in Minnesota. Eleven percent of the state's total driving population, or 296,000 people, were licensed to ride in Minnesota in 1995, which ranks us in the top 15 states for the number of registered motorcyclists.

Each year statistics show that drinking alcohol is a major contributing factor to motorcycle crashes that lead to injury and death. Of the 25 motorcycle operators killed in 1995, 68% had been drinking and 59% were legally drunk. Twenty-two of the 25 victims were tested for alcohol.*

Since motorcyclists are relatively unprotected and much more likely to be injured or killed in a crash than other vehicle drivers, alcohol consumption is especially risky. Specific riding skills which are affected by alcohol long before a motorcyclist is intoxicated include: vision, perception, balance, judgment, risk taking, reaction time, eye, hand and foot coordination, and steadiness.

Because cues to detect intoxicated motorists are different than for motorcyclists, law enforcement officials developed a Motorcycle Driving While Intoxicated Guide. Behavioral cues which aid in the detection of impaired motorcycle operation are now a part of the training for all police departments, county sheriffs and the State Patrol and have been incorporated into curriculum for police training academies. Fourteen different cues have been identified as the best predictors of impaired operation.

Excellent cues
(50% or greater probability of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Good cues
(30 to 50% probability of DWI)

The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MSC), funded by the Department of Public Safety, tackled the issue of drinking and riding in 1988 and again in 1993. The 1988 campaign Put it in your mouth and pull the trigger gave the compelling message that the bottle/throttle combination could be deadly. In 1993, the Dead Guys campaign included the famous Dead Guys poster featuring the headline "Research shows that most women arent attracted to dead guys. Alcohol and motorcycles dont mix." The 1997 campaign promotes the use of full protective gear. One of this years popular posters highlights a simple, three-step process to fame and fortune:

1. Ride motorcycle without protective leathers. 2. Lay bike down at 60 mph. 3. Begin exciting new career in traveling side show as Jimmy, The Skinless Wonderboy.

During May, several promotions and events will occur to promote motorcycle safety statewide. As summer approaches, it is once again important to remind motorists to Start Seeing Motorcycles!

If you have questions about the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center or to learn more about the 1996-97 campaign, contact Tanya Hamre at 612- 422-2044 or 800-247-1303, e-mail: thamre@miph.org, or visit the MSC website at www.motorcyclesafety.org.
*1995 Minnesota Department of Public Safety Crash Facts data