The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been named “the greatest motorcycle rally in the world” by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sturgis, a small town in South Dakota, where the population was measured at 6,796 in 2020, has historically welcomed around 500,000 people during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This rally peaked at over 700,000 in 2015.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists continue to be overrepresented in traffic fatalities. In 2020, 5,579 motorcyclists were involved in fatal accidents on the roads.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgensen helped cover the highways on the Wyoming side of the Sturgis rally for about 14 years. During this period he was involved in the investigation of numerous motorcycle accidents.
Calling the show from Sundance, Jorgensen told listeners of Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, while it’s legal to forgo the use of a helmet while driving in Wyoming, he advises the use of helmets to all cyclists he interacts with on the road.
Jorgensen also addressed motorists, asking them to take a second look to make sure no bikes are in their way before they turn or merge during this time of year.
For more information on identifying the difference between safe and unsafe motorcycle helmets, click here.
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