Public safety officials are urging motorcyclists to practice safe riding behaviors following a week of crashes that resulted in four rider deaths and two serious injuries.

To date in 2008, 39 riders have died, compared to 37 at this time last year. In all, 61 riders died on Minnesota roads last year, according to a Department of Public Safety (DPS) press release.

“This rash of deadly crashes shows the need for motorcyclists to ride smart and for other motorists to drive aware and pay attention,” says Cheri Marti, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director.

Marti stresses that riders need to travel at safe speeds and avoid drinking and riding. She adds motorists need to look twice for riders before changing lanes and especially at intersections.

According to DPS, fewer than half of all motorcycle crashes in Minnesota involve another motor vehicle. The four most common factors in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes are speed, inexperience, inattention, and impairment—all factors within the rider’s control.

Marti advises motorcycle riders to take a safety course, wear protective gear, and ride sober. Rider training for beginners and experienced riders is available statewide and is the first step in safe riding.

Marti says protective gear can reduce injuries as well as protect riders from the effects of wind, rain, and temperature extremes. And separating alcohol from motorcycling is paramount—one-third of riders involved in fatal crashes last year involved a rider who had been drinking.

To learn more about motorcycle safety or find a training course, visit www.motorcyclesafety.org or call 800-407-6677. Riders can also learn 20 ways to stand out in traffic at www.HighViz.org.