For Immediate Release:
June 17, 2019

Contact:
Tim Weisberg
OTS Marketing and Public Affairs
timothy.weisberg@ots.ca.gov
(916) 509-3020

The OTS asks drivers to share the road on Ride to Work Day

Elk Grove, Calif. – Today is national Ride to Work Day, and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is asking drivers to be extra cautious and look twice for motorcycles.

Ride to Work Day celebrates the passion many riders across the country have for motorcycles. That passion is particularly evident in California, where there are nearly 900,000 registered motorcycles and 1.4 million licensed riders across the state.

Ride to Work Day was inspired by a marketing campaign from a Minnesota-based motorcycle clothing manufacturer called “Work to Ride – Ride to Work.” For nearly 30 years since those marketing materials were released, the non-profit Ride to Work has put on a yearly event promoting the use of motorcycles or scooters as a way to travel to work.

While riding can be fun and enjoyable, it is also dangerous due to the fact that riders are out in the open without the same protections as drivers, and are harder to see.

Motorcycle deaths occur 28 times more frequently than deaths in other vehicles, a 2016 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found.

“Whether it is part of your daily commute or hitting the open road for a scenic ride, motorcycle riding is a staple of our state,” OTS Director Rhonda Craft said. “But riding comes with significant safety challenges that both drivers and riders should be aware of.”

To make this year’s Ride to Work Day safe, the OTS offers tips for drivers and riders:

  • Always wear a Department of Transportation compliant helmet. Look for the DOT symbol on the back certifying the helmet meets the DOT safety
  • Never drive or ride under the influence of alcohol and/or
  • Watch your speed and leave plenty of
  • Check your mirrors and blind spots before turning. Use your signal when changing
  • Look for motorcycles before turning at an
  • Riders should wear bright colors and protective
  • Keep your motorcycle’s headlights on at all times, even during the
  • Avoid riding in a vehicle’s blind

All riders, new and experienced, are encouraged to enroll in the California Highway Patrol’s California Motorcyclist Safety Program. To enroll and find a training site near you, visit californiamotorcyclist.com.

The OTS administers funding for traffic safety programs statewide with the goal of reducing crashes that result in deaths, injuries, and economic losses. The OTS is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

 


 

 

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