Why is motorcycle training important? Does it really matter? Is it just for new riders? And what is HVE?

Here’s some insights from our vocal instructor community!  Meet Chris Johnson…

“Motorcycle training is important to all riders no matter what their skill set is and here’s why. Motorcycle riding is a diminishing skill. If you don’t do it on a regular basis, you will lose that skill set. You can never stop learning as a rider. There is so much that you could do. Never stop seeking it, never stop acknowledging it, never stop sharing the message.”

 

“The motorcycle statistics and fatality numbers in Washington State are somewhat alarming. The percentage of registered motorcycles in Washington State is only 3% of the road users. Unfortunately, they equate for 15% of the fatalities for Washington’s road users. And sadly, on top of that, 70% nationally of motorcycle crashes and fatalities are riders involved with no other vehicle. And it is primarily corners and intersections that we’re seeing that.”

 

“High visibility enforcement, HVE, is important because during July, August, and September, we actually lose 40, traditionally over the last five years, of the 90 on average of fatalities for motorcycle riders in Washington State. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission, I have partnered with over 25 law enforcement agencies, including State Patrol, and their focus to be to watch that high-risk rider, that high-risk driver, and take the time to educate them on exactly what it is that they’re doing and how much risk they’re putting themselves at, other road users at, families. They have actually looked at the areas and the environments where people have been having a problem killing themselves: corners, highways, intersections. So they’re actually gonna police these areas and go to where the problems are.”

 

“What can we as a community do to help each other to reduce serious fatalities and injuries on Washington’s road? Get the training. Get the tools, you deserve it. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to your family and you owe it to the community. Don’t be a number, be a rider. So I say to myself every time I get on the bike, I will come home today. I will learn more. I will accept the environment. I will accept the challenges and I will have fun.”

 

— Chris Johnson, Washington Motorcycle Safety Training

What’s your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments!