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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 Spring Flood Run, Saturday, April 16. The ride typically attracts thousands of riders and takes them on route between the Twin Cities and Winona.
Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials ask riders and motorists to share the roads. Riders should take safety into their own hands and motorists should look twice for motorcyclists.
“We want riders to ride smart, enjoy the spring ride and make it home safely. That takes motorcyclists and other motorists working together to share the road,” said Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol. “Motorcyclists should ride sober, ride at their own pace in groups, be prepared for potential road hazards, and know how to safely navigate curves in the road. Other motorists should give riders space and diligently check blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections.”
Riders should be aware of spring riding conditions and make safe riding a priority due to potential hazards such as:
- Snow run-off freezing at night
- Uneven pavement
- Potholes
- Loose sand and gravel, especially in the curves
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.
DPS offers these safety tips:
Riders
- Be prepared for inattentive drivers by staying focused on riding, keeping your speed in check and maintaining a three-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.
- Know how to navigate a curve. Here are tips to ride through curves safely:
- Slow down for the curve.
- Look through the curve.
- Countersteer.
- Gently roll on through the curve.
- As the riding season begins, take a training course. Training season is underway, and courses are available for basic to expert riders. Taking a training course every couple of years will polish skills to stay safe on the road.
Motorists
- Watch for motorcyclists. 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 three-second following distance and check blind spots.
- Pay attention and drive at safe speeds.
Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center Statistics and Resources
- There are more than 259,000 registered motorcycles and more than 397,000 licensed operators in Minnesota (2021).
- During the 2021 training season, MMSC trained more than 4,500 students statewide.
- Visit DriveSmartMN.org.
- Follow MMSC on Twitter @MnDPS_MCSafety and “like” MMSC on Facebook.
About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 11 divisions where 2,200 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.
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