May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and fatal motorcycle crashes in Arizona are on the rise. The number of deaths in motorcycle crashes is up 4 percent from last year, and almost 17 percent of all deadly crashes on the roads so far this year involve motorcycles.
Mick Degn is the chairman of The Arizona Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Foundation, and he wants to change that trend and hopes this focus on safety continues all year long. "It's got to be an ongoing thing, something we're looking at every month of year," says Degn. "Anytime you're out there look for motorcycles and be safe."
Training is a big part of motorcycle safety. "It's cool but it is also dangerous, and it can be less dangerous if you learn how to operate it properly," Degn adds.
In addition to training, motorcyclists should wear helmets and the correct protective gear. Drivers can help cut down on crashes by always looking twice in their mirrors, and giving motorcycles plenty of extra space.
