ST. PAUL — Riders and motorists should exercise extreme caution this weekend along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers as thousands of motorcyclists take to the road for the Fall Flood Run. As many as 30,000 riders will be traveling between the Twin Cities and Winona on Saturday, Sept. 15.
So far this season, 49 motorcyclists have died on Minnesota roads, according to preliminary reports, compared to 45 at the same time last year. With the current number of rider fatalities up slightly from this time last year, riders and motorists are encouraged to safely share the road. Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials ask riders to take safety into their own hands and motorists to look twice for motorcyclists.
Law enforcement agencies in southeast Minnesota, along with Minnesota State Troopers, will be out patrolling the area during the event to ensure a safe riding environment.
“When you have large groups participating in an event like the Flood Run, challenges are compounded for both riders and motorists, especially when you add in any use of alcohol, speeding or distractions,” says Lt. Robert Zak, Minnesota State Patrol. “Any one of these factors can lead to tragic results, so it is important for riders to do their part to ride safely, and for motorists to remain alert and watch for motorcycles.”
DPS offers these safety tips:
Riders
Be prepared for inattentive drivers by staying focused on riding, keeping your speed in check and maintaining a two-second following distance.
Wear the gear. Motorcyclists should wear a DOT-approved helmet and brightly colored protective gear for visibility and protection.
Don’t drink and ride. One-third of all motorcycle fatalities involve impaired riders.
Motorists
Watch for motorcycles. Due to the smaller size of motorcycles, their speed and distance is more difficult to judge.
Always look twice before entering a roadway, turning left or changing lanes.
Give riders room by maintaining a two-second following distance and check blind spots.
Pay attention and drive at safe speeds.
About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 11 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center
The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) provides high-quality rider education, training and licensing to prevent motorcycle crashes and the resulting fatalities and injuries. It was created in the early 1980s to address record high motorcyclist fatalities.
The MMSC provides on-cycle and classroom rider training courses, develops awareness campaigns and informational materials, and coordinates third-party skills testing for motorcycle license endorsement through the Basic Rider Course and evening testing at select DVS Exam Stations.
Motorcycle safety is a component of Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), the state’s primary road safety initiative. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.
Recent MMSC Activity and Statistics
There are more than 236,000 registered motorcycles and more than 414,000 licensed operators in Minnesota.
During the 2017 training season, MMSC trained nearly 6,000 students statewide.
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