With the 76th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at last year’s statistics. In 2015, it was estimated that a record-breaking 1,000,000 people attended, according to Department of Transportation (DOT) traffic counts.
Another record-breaking number from last year? Thirteen motorcycle accident deaths.
The previous record was 11, and in 2014 there were only four deaths. There were 152 motorcycle injury accidents last year, up from 69 the previous year. The official start of Sturgis, 2016, is August 8, which means a large number of attendees will be on the road this weekend.
Staying Safe at Sturgis 2016
This year’s rally is expected to be much smaller than last year’s 75th anniversary celebration, but even in normal years, it is a huge event.
Adults are not required to wear a helmet in South Dakota or surrounding states except for Nebraska, but helmets are recommended to minimize the seriousness of injuries and possibly save your life. That being said, it is far better to avoid an accident entirely:
- Do not ride intoxicated
- Be prepared to stop for wildlife
- Be weather aware
- Watch out for bad behavior on the part of drivers. The actual population of Sturgis is less than 7,000. Nearly everyone on the road during the bike rally is out of their element.
Sturgis and Alcohol
There were 220 DUI arrests last year, down from 257 the previous year. While that may sound like a good thing, a Highway Patrol official says it is due, in part, to officers being too busy with accidents to patrol for drunk drivers.
If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, AccidentAttorneys.org can connect you with a highly credentialed motorcycle accident attorney who will fight for your legal rights.
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