Letter to the Editor

If you ride, you’re in control of your safety.

Posted

Dear Editor,

Right now, motorcyclists are taking in the beauty of our Washington summer. Whether you ride or know someone who does, it’s assuring to know that most Washington adults agree that we all share a responsibility for safety on our roadways.

As a traffic safety professional, I want to share some data with your readers: Motorcycles account for just three percent of registered vehicles in Washington, but they’re involved 15 percent of fatal crashes. In 75 percent of motorcyclist-involved fatal crashes the rider is at fault; the two most common factors are speeding and impairment. Even so, it’s safe to say that most riders follow traffic rules.

In Thurston County, 2018 was a record year for motorcycle fatalities, up 200 percent from 2017. Fortunately, we saw lower numbers in recent years with two fatalities in 2019, five fatalities in 2020 and two fatalities so far in 2021, according to the Washington State Crash Data Portal. However, Target Zero’s goal for Thurston county is zero, so there is still work to be done.  

If you ride, you’re in control of your safety. You depend on your own skills, experience, training and judgment. You do it by wearing a helmet and the right gear, riding sober and choosing safe speeds. And this is key: don’t outride your talent.

Novice riders are over-represented in serious crashes; so take a class, train with an experienced rider, do what it takes to get good. Then you can truly enjoy the freedom that motorcycle riding offers. Riding motorcycles isn’t a hobby; it’s a craft. It takes continuous practice to be an excellent rider.

Best,

Jessie Knudsen

Region Four Target Zero Manager,  The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Editor's Note:   To legally ride a motorcycle in Washington state requires an endorsement on your drivers' license. This comes only after taking an exam, sometimes after also taking a course, at an approved motorcycle driving school.  The nearest approved school to Tumwater and Lacey is  Puget Sound Safety, based in Tacoma.  PSS has opened a branch in Lacey. For more information visit PSS' website. or call 253-770-8888. 

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