Seats open for motorcycle safety course

The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s motorcycle safety Basic Rider Course is this weekend at the WYDOT building, and seats are still open. The course is designed for those without any experience, but motorcycle riders of any skill are welcome. The cost for residents is $50.

Successful completion of the course is the testing waiver for the M CLASS endorsement. Motorcycles and helmets will be provided.

Motorcycles are the most fuel efficient class of highway vehicle. They are also the most hazardous. In Wyoming there are currently about 30,000 registered motorcycles. The bikes account for less than one percent of registered vehicles in Wyoming, but are represented in 18 percent of fatal crashes.

In 2015, 24 lives were lost in motorcycle crashes. This is the third highest fatality year for Wyoming in at least 22 years. Wyoming residents represented 57 percent of these fatalities whose ages range from 29-76 years old - average age was 54 years old.

Motorcyclists in Wyoming are 85 percent more likely to be injured or killed in a crash compared to vehicle occupants who are 23 percent likely to be injured or killed. Nationally, statistics show that the percentage of impaired motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on our roads. In Wyoming, 43 percent of the motorcycle fatalities were impaired riders.

Safe riding practices and cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. It’s especially important for motorists to understand the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists such as size and visibility, and motorcycle riding practices like downshifting and weaving to know how to anticipate and respond to them. By raising motorists’ awareness, both drivers and riders will be safer sharing the road.

Wyoming’s motorcycle training program is funded by the state’s motorcycle riders through a portion of motorcycle registrations and license renewals. The program works to generate safety awareness and training for riders.

Wyoming’s motorcycle safety administrator is an active member of the National Association of Motorcycle Safety Administrators that works toward reducing motorcycle crashes by training riders and generating public awareness.

Like most states, Wyoming uses the nationally recognized training curriculum from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The Basic Rider Course consists of 20 hours of instruction, with the $50 fee going to help to offset program costs.

In addition to being skilled motorcycle riders, the training instructors devote over 10 days of intense training to obtain their national certification. Wyoming’s instructors trained over 850 motorcyclists last year. The national standards for skills taught during the training course include:

Pre-ride tasks- Riders understand and follow laws and regulations. They have risk awareness and understand the function of proper personal protective equipment.

Control Skills- Basic skills of mounting, starting, stopping, dismounting and proper techniques for clutch and throttle control. Riding in a straight line, slowing, turning and shifting as well.

Street Strategies- Identifying hazards and escape routes and correct response. Making proper adjustments for weather conditions.

Group riding, carrying passengers and cargo.

Factors adversely affecting rider performance including drug and alcohol.

Registration for the class can be done online at http://www.dot.state.wy.us/basic-rider