RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – According to the National Safety Council, 2022 motorcycle accidents accounted for nearly 15 percent of all accidents despite only making up 3 percent of registered vehicles.
Spring weather has arrived in the Black Hills as temperatures have reached near 80 degrees, and with that warmer weather more motorcyclists on the roads. As more riders hit the roads, it’s important to make sure they’re well-equipped to handle anything thrown their way. Safety trainer Gina Suelflow explains how her safety course prepares riders.
“Good things that we train are to be visible,” Suelflow said. “Bright colored, retro-reflective material on your clothing, bike, and helmet. Making sure we have all the gear. We never know when you’re going to need it, so we want to be safe. And then always being on high alert when riding.”
Suelflow says in addition to the basic safety measures she mentioned, it’s important for motorcyclists to protect themselves at all times and never engage in road-rage scenarios, as they are less protected than someone in a car.
“We always tell our students, ‘Don’t start a war that you’re probably likely to lose because we’re much smaller,’” Suelflow said. “So yes, we have to share the roads with cars. Just making sure to visually scan and keeping that space cushion, and always be alert. I always tell motorcyclists to ride like no one can see you. Just assume none of the drivers ever saw you.”
Suelflows last piece of advice is that no matter how experienced you are, you should always wear your helmet.
“South Dakota, if you’re 18 or older, does not have a helmet law where it’s required,” Suelfow said. “Obviously, if you’re under 18, whether you’re a rider or passenger, you need to wear a helmet. We just really, really recommend wearing a helmet. DOT standard is the minimum standard, and there are a lot of different, stringent higher levels of protection.”
Suelflow added she offers a braking and cornering clinic for advanced riders to go over the most common causes for motorcycle crashes. For anyone interested in taking a course, call 605-361-7785.
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