print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published October 07, 2008, 12:00 AM

N.D. motorcycle fatals hit record

Authorities say the total of 13 deaths in motorcycle crashes on North Dakota roads this year is a record. It compares with eight last year and four in 2006.

BISMARCK (AP) — Authorities say the total of 13 deaths in motorcycle crashes on North Dakota roads this year is a record. It compares with eight last year and four in 2006.

State Transportation Department spokeswoman Billie Jo Lorius said a review of 20 years of traffic records shows this year is the first year the number of motorcycle road deaths reached double digits.

ABATE, which stands for American Bikers Aiming Toward Education, contracts with the state Transportation Department to provide motorcycle safety courses. ABATE Director Michael Jay estimates more than 2,700 people attended this year compared with about 2,200 last year.

Federal Highway Ad-ministration figures show the number of motorcycle registrations in the state has increased every year since 2002. This year, Jay thinks 29,000 or more will be registered by the end of the year.

Tags: , , , , 

More from around the web