FARGO — As motorcycle season returns to the Upper Midwest, safety advocates are urging riders to prioritize training before hitting the road.
The 2024 season was deadly for motorcyclists in the region, with 17 people killed in motorcycle crashes in North Dakota. Minnesota reported 76 fatal motorcycle crashes.
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“Training is a huge thing,” said Jon Fernholz, education chair for the Minnesota chapter of American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education (A.B.A.T.E.).
A 2022 study from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety found that nearly 30% of motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes did not have a valid motorcycle license.
“There were a lot of fatalities recently, in the last few years,” Fernholz said. “The percentages of those who were unendorsed or unpermitted riders — essentially no training whatsoever and not legally allowed to operate a motorcycle on Minnesota roadways.”
Fernholz emphasized that a lack of training is one of the biggest contributing factors to deadly crashes.
“It’s all about preventing situations and creating muscle memory,” Fernholz said. “So that when you, as a motorcyclist, get into a dangerous situation, your body just automatically does what it needs to do without thinking about it.”
He also cautioned that just because someone can drive a motorcycle doesn’t mean they should — especially without training. And even veteran riders, he said, could benefit from a refresher course.
“You might find out that you don’t know everything in the book,” he said.
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Motorcycle safety classes are available online at the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety website and in North Dakota at VisionZero.ND.gov.
Hoping to change the trajectory of fatal motorcycle crashes, A.B.A.T.E. has funded more than $60,000 in rider training for nearly 250 students across Minnesota the past three years.
Fernholz said the Minnesota team is also looking for more certified coaches to help provide motorcycle safety training. Those interested can email education@abatemn.org .
