So in fact do the number of motorcycle riders and registrations. State Sen. Vicki Walker is proposing for next legislative session that all new riders getting an endorsement for the first time MUST take the Team Oregon safety course.

Originally it was thought that there would also be a requirement for any rider renewing their endorsement but due to the outcry from ABATE and other groups this idea was dropped.

Personally, although against government intrusion on a regular basis I support the idea of mandatory first time endorsement training.

Team Oregon has consistently been rates the number 1 motorcycle training program in the country, and we can vastly reduce the number of accidents through rider training and public awareness of motorcycles.

There will however always be that segment of society that thinks it is ok to drink and ride or drink and drive. It appears that in fact, fixing stupid is not possible.

I would love to see the statistics on motorcycle Vs cage collisions as opposed to single vehicle motorcycle accidents. I’m betting that far more occur in the first group.

I have been told the fastest growing demographic of motorcycle riders in the last 10 years has been men from 40 to 50 years of age, most of whom have not ridden in decades due to raising families. A good portion of these guys think they “know how” to ride a motorcycle. And, having a few more bucks in their pocket than the younger guys, go out and buy the biggest bike they can, but, neglect to take the rider safety course. They are also the largest group having crashes on bikes as well, not the zoom splat crowd.

There are numerous ways we can strive to bring down the number of motorcycle related injuries and deaths, however it is more of a social ill on the drinking and riding part, and I fear that there will always be a certain percentage who engage in this risky behavior.

WJ