Duval County is one of the leading Florida counties in motorcycle crashes, with 59 incidents recorded this year by the Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Eight fatalities have been recorded as of Feb. 27, the preliminary data in the Florida Crash Dashboard shows.
In January alone, four motorcyclists were killed in three separate crashes within eight days. The first weekend of March, a man was killed and another was critically injured in a crash on San Jose Boulevard.
In 2024, Duval County recorded 36 fatalities in 479 motorcycle-related crashes.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office hosts SMART Motorcycle Safety courses, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, to encourage safe riding and curb the number of motorcycle crashes.
Sheriff’s Office motorcycle officers host free motorcycle rider training on select Saturdays.
The SMART program, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, aims to mitigate motorcycle-related fatalities and crashes through awareness and training. SMART stands for “Safe Motorcycle and Rider Techniques.”
Jacksonville motorcycle safety course schedule
Here is the schedule for upcoming motorcycle safety classes:
- March 8
- March 29
- April 12
- April 26
- May 10
- May 24
- June 7
- June 21
- July 12 – This is an advanced rider course.
TIME
- 7 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. Registration
- 7:40 a.m. Safety briefings with course walk-through
- 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Class is in session
LOCATION
- Classes are scheduled to take place at the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center (Police Academy) located at 4715 Capper Road, Jacksonville.
- To register or learn more, visit jaxsheriff.org.
What to bring to the SMART motorcycle course
According to the Sheriff’s Office, riders should bring:
- Valid Driver’s License
- Motorcycle Endorsement
- A mechanically sound motorcycle with a valid registration
- Over the ankle footwear (footwear which covers the ankle bone and provides support)
- Long pants
- Long sleeve shirt or lightweight jacket
- Eye protection
- Florida Department of Transportation approved helmet
- Gloves
- Food and drinks are not provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Please plan ahead as we will not break for lunch.
- Sunscreen, rain gear and a change of clothing are usually good to have available.
Motorcycle safety tips provided by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office’s Motorcycle Safety Guide shares what to do and what NOT to do when riding:
DO
- Get a license and proper training
- Wear the right gear
- Obey traffic laws
DON’T
- Ride without a license
- Skip a proper helmet
- Ignore traffic laws
(This story has been updated for minor adjustments.)
