Motorcycle Fatalities in San Antonio drop

Friends say Leonard Goff, 52, would be alive had he heeded his longtime girlfriend's advice to wear a helmet when he rode his motorcycle.

Goff, a longtime motorcyclist, died in a crash after losing control while speeding in the 14100 block of Judson Road on April 21. According to a police report, he may have been drinking.

He is the eighth motorcycle rider killed in a crash in San Antonio this year, police said. But they also say fatal crashes are on the decline: In 2012, eight fewer people died in motorcycle crashes than in 2011.

Texas is one of 16 states that has seen a drop in motorcyclist fatalities in recent years, unlike the rest of the country, where fatalities are expected to reach a record 5,027 once 2012 numbers are finalized, according to a study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“We don't really know why they declined; the numbers fluctuate every year,” said Barbara Harsha, GHSA's executive director. “The state is probably paying more attention to motorcycle safety, but the most effective countermeasure is mandatory helmet laws for all riders.”

While Texas legislators in 1997 repealed a law requiring all riders to wear helmets, those younger than 21 still must wear them when riding, according to the Texas Transportation Code. Shortly after repealing the law, fatalities in Texas increased, published reports state, and the Texas Department of Transportation took notice.

The agency says an aggressive education campaign that began in 2008 is what's caused the drop in fatalities in Texas.

“We saw these fatalities starting to come up, and we knew that we had to focus on it,” said Carol Rawson, the director of TxDOT's traffic operations division. “There was a focus on this, like a laser. The benefits are coming about now, and 28 people didn't lose their lives in a motorcycle crash last year.”

She said that after interviewing motorists involved in crashes with motorcycles, the drivers often claimed not to have seen the bike, so officials targeted the campaign to better inform motorists. Called “Share the Road,” the effort includes electronic and road signs, advertising and education for both riders and drivers.

Texas motorcyclists aren't required to wear helmets, so long as they complete a rider training program or hold medical insurance covering motorcycle crash injuries. But they are encouraged in safety classes to wear helmets.

Rudy Vogt, 37, said Goff, who was a good friend, was a safe rider who was driving too fast while taking a curve on an unlit portion of the road.

Goff, described in an obituary as a “jack of all trades” who had many hobbies, “the greatest of which was riding his motorcycle,” is survived by his life partner, Angela Kiebler, and sons Anthony Goff and Joshua Mancini.

“He just didn't see the curve, but this could have been prevented,” Vogt said. “I always wear my helmet. I believe in it because my brother got into an accident, and a helmet saved his life.”


_____________________
source: My San Antonio (Moravec, 4/29)

Maypearl rally aids wounded heroes

MAYPEARL – Downtown Maypearl was thundering with the thrum of motorcycles as thousands turned out Friday-Sunday for Rally Round Our Heroes.

Big B’s Leather and Wounded Heroes of Texas organized the motorcycle rally, concerts and vendor fair to raise money and awareness for disabled veterans and the veterans associations of Dallas-Fort Worth.

“This is basically the first family-oriented biker rally in North Texas. We didn’t expect it to be this big, but we will definitely do it again next year,” said Chuck Perry, Wounded Heroes of Texas founder. “We wanted this to be an event to honor our disabled vets and raise funds for our Galveston retreat. It’s really just a feel-good event and helps vets.”

Perry said the Wounded Heroes of Texas helps disabled veterans adjust to life after service and reintegrate into society. The nonprofit organization’s annual Galveston fishing and sailing retreat for veterans is one of the ways it helps.

The three-day event featured live music from Southern Heat, Curb Service and Janis Joplin tribute band Piece of My Heart, while several vendors sold “everything from mufflers to mints,” Perry said. Rally Round Our Heroes also featured raffles, displays and bike washes.

He said the Wounded Heroes of Texas serves veterans from the Oklahoma border to Temple, Texas, and he is hoping to start a chapter in Brownsville next year. The organization is part of the national Veteran Association’s reintegration program and aims to continue to serve more of Texas every year.

The Rally Round Our Heroes received support from the Maypearl city council and mayor, as well as local support from businesses. Bruce (the big ‘B’ of Big B’s Leather) and Cupcake Helsing helped host the event, organize the vendor fair and promote the event to their customers.

“We’re a traveling vendor and have the store here (in Maypearl), so we invited all of our contacts to come set up at the rally,” Cupcake said. “We’ve got vendors clear from Iowa to local vendors out here.”

The event attracted a lot of visitors and customers to downtown Maypearl.

“We set it up spread out like this so people would want to walk through town to see everything and spend time visiting the businesses and vendors,” she said. “We hit some logistical bumps in the road this year, but it is the first year we’ve hosted it.”

Cupcake said she worked with Perry to host the event in Maypearl, because she wanted to see the small town flourish. The Helsings opened their store four years ago in downtown and the Farm-to-Market Roads 66 and 157 have become favorite routes of bikers.

__________________________________
Source: Waxahachie News (Schwaderer, 4/15)

Local motorcycle store owners urge drivers to put safety first

LUFKIN, TX- Fatal motorcycle accidents have been popping up all over East Texas leaving many motorcycle owners and fans concerned.

While many people think motorcycles are cool and fast, they are also very dangerous. Riding motorcycles has become more of a social norm in the past decade, but it's also opened up a doorway for more wrecks.

"It's a great thing to do. I've done it for the majority of my life, but you have to understand that you put your life on the line when you get out on the highway," said Scott Wilcox, the owner of Cycle Heaven in Lufkin.

Wilcox says he has seen countless friends die in motorcycle accidents.

"That definitely changed my outlook, and perspective on motorcycle riding and it brought up several points with me. It doesn't have to be an automobile, it doesn't have to be a one vehicle accident and it can be anything. You have to expect the unexpected," said Wilcox.

Tom Moore, the parts and service manager at Texas Thunder Harley Davidson, says a lot of fatalities happen because riders don't follow the rules.

"I'm a firm believer that every time you get on a motorcycle you should be wearing ankle high boots, you should be wearing at least a half helmet, gloves aren't necessary, but they come in handy. It's a little bit easier to repair a motorcycle than a person," said Moore.

It doesn't matter if you are a brand new or seasoned rider, it's always important to put your helmet on before you get on the bike, Moore says.

"The motorcycle is a vehicle just like a car and they do carry the right of way. It is your job as a driver of the vehicle to keep an eye out on them and make sure they are not in your way," said Moore.

Wilcox says he loves to ride, but believes it's every riders job to remind themselves about the dangers of reckless driving.

"The car is always going to win. Once you get comfortable and relaxed to the point of throwing caution to the wind, you are in a very deadly situation. If you encounter a situation where there is a violent person in an automobile, give them the right of way. What do you have to prove at that point? They are going to win with that car. So give them the right of way. Let that get away from you," said Wilcox.

Both men say that it is also important to retake the state mandated rider safety course several times throughout your motorcycle career.

_________________________________
Source: KTRE (Reed, 4/11)

Gender makes no difference when it comes to having fun or accidents on motorcycles

EL PASO — The 2006 Suzuki GSXR 600 roars down the I-10 freeway going 60 mph at 6:30 a.m. on a weekday and exits on Schuster Avenue. The woman at the wheel, Tory Lewis, a fit 5’ 2’’ blonde, then turns left onto Hawthorne from Schuster Avenue entering the University of Texas at El Paso campus. Her bike comes to an abrupt stop behind the Administrative Building and she parks in a spot designated for motorcycles.

She removes her dark-blue helmet and is ready to start her day as she walks towards her graphic and design fundamentals class located in the Liberal Arts Building.

“I just love how I’m able to feel the speed,” said Lewis, a medical engineering student at UTEP.

Lewis, 28, was born and raised in Michigan and served in the United States Army for about seven years before being stationed at Fort Bliss in April of 2005.

Growing up around motorcycles motivated Lewis to learn to ride at the age of 15 and she hasn’t been able to get off since.

She bought the Suzuki, her first motorcycle, in 2006 and is proud to say she has never been in an accident.

“I always take precautions and I wear my safety gear,” she said. “I have also taken the motorcycle safety course and the advanced one.”

She understands it’s a risk to ride a motorcycle because no matter how safely she drives other vehicles are unpredictable and larger vehicles sometimes do not see her.

And she remembers getting pulled over by a police officer for speeding one time. The officer acted surprised when she removed her helmet. “He said he never expected he was pulling over a girl and talked about it nonstop,” she chuckled.

Lewis’ mother, Vickie Knake, 50, has also been riding since the age of 15 and has always been a member of motorcycle clubs. She currently lives in Baldwin, Michigan, and now only rides for fun and occasionally attends motorcycle events. Knake said a lot has changed since she started riding as a teenager.

“Riding used to be exiting and free. Now it’s a money maker and (full of) politics,” said Knake, explaining that most motorcycles clubs and events now seem to focus on making money rather than cruising and enjoying the ride.

El Pasoan Timothy Daniels, 44, has been riding since he was 18. He likes to ride with Lewis, and sometimes jokes about being a better driver than women motorcyclists. He has been a member of various motorcycle clubs for about seven years and is currently a member of the Moto Family, a driving club created about two years ago. Moto Family has 18 members, mainly men, and just three women members. The club participated in the Toys for Tot’s Bike Run last year in Las Cruces. Bike members usually cruise the city in groups when time allows, and try to ride together every Sunday morning depending on the weather.

“We treat women just how we treat the guys in the club,” Daniels said. “No one is better than anyone else.”

He added that although men have always outnumbered women in the club, the few female riders who join like to stick around.

Although accidents are common among motorcycle drivers, the sex of the rider is usually not a factor. Most motorcycle-related deaths occur because the riders aren’t wearing a helmet, according to accident statistics. What matters most is that drivers take precautions like driving safely and wearing a helmet.

There were 426 motorcycle deaths in Texas in 2009, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. This is a 13.6 percent increase from the 375 motorcycle deaths recorded in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Sixty percent of these bike drivers were not wearing helmets and 39 percent of the motorcyclists killed had a blood alcohol level greater than .08.

According to NHTSA, motorcycle riders are 35 times more likely to be in traffic accidents than someone driving a passenger car. The agency does not break down the statistics for men and women motorcycle drivers.

A possible factor in the increase of motorcycle accidents is that the number of states requiring riders to wear helmets has decreased in the past 40 years. In the 1970s, for example, 47 states had laws requiring the use of helmets by motorcycle riders; today only 19 states have a law requiring helmets. The rest of the states, including Texas, only require riders to wear helmets partially, meaning once they reach a certain age. Here is a map from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showing helmet laws in all 50 states.

Although some men claim that women don’t drive as well as men, gender does not appear to be a factor in accidents and motorcycle deaths.

“I was about to sell my bike a few years ago because of how dangerous it is and all the deaths (I read about) but I wasn’t able to,” Lewis said.

“You’re always going to have accidents, either on your motorcycle or car, and you just have to be as cautious as you can,” she said. “I enjoy riding too much; it’s hard to get rid of something you have had almost your entire life.”

_____________________________________
Source: Boderzine (Gonzales, 3/28)

Valerie Thompson Prepares for Texas Mile

Valerie Thompson, owner/driver of Valerie Thompson Racing (VTR), is hoping to set new land speed records during her first appearance at the Texas Mile race March 22-24 at Chase Field Industrial Complex in Beeville Texas. Thompson hopes to become a member of “200 MPH Club of Texas,” with her Martech Services Company sponsored BMW S1000 RR Superbike.

Popularity of the Texas Mile has grown rapidly since its inaugural event in October 2003, with participants from the US, Canada and Mexico testing themselves on one of the fastest and most challenging 1-mile tracks in the world. This bi-annual Motorsports Festival is welcomes racers in several categories, including motorcycles, high-performance street machines, racecars and land speed racers.

“I can’t wait to kick off our 2013 racing season at the legendary Texas Mile,” said Thompson. “We have been busy preparing our Superbike with new BMW Motorrad HP4 Race Parts, MS Production supplied carbon fiber race parts and new paint job by Orlando Autobody of Mesa Arizona. Even out tow vehicle has been improved with new Vision Wheels from our newest sponsor,” added Thompson.

_______________________
Source: Motorcycle U.S.A (AP, 3/20)

Ten Things to Take on Every Trip

Spring is here, which means sitting down and planning those long summer trips that you'll be dreaming about at work to keep yourself sane. But your dream trip can easily go from a story you'll tell your friends about to make them jealous to a trip that airs on When Vacations Attack in 2.5 seconds. To keep things on the right track, always pack a few necessary things:

An A Plan: Whether you like to schedule every little thing down to what undies you want to wear on what day or you're a free spirit that like to go wherever the road takes you, some sense of a trip outline is a must. Sure, you can deviate from it a little as you go, but knowing where point a is and where point b is and how to get between the two before you hop on your bike is a must. Plus, it doesn't hurt to map out where gas, food and places to sleep along the way so that you don't end up stranded on a road somewhere with no gas and only a pack of gum to snack on.

Once you get all that figured out, feel free to tell a few people so that they'll have an idea where you are and which way to send the search team if you don't make it to your final destination. Have someone at home that will be freaking out if you don't call every hour on the hour? Invest in a Spot II Personal GPS Satellite Messenger. The thing tracks where you are by satellite and can send messages to your loved ones telling them your exact coordinates and that you're okay.

Speaking of GPS: Getting lost is one of the fastest ways to kill a good trip, especially if you're the group's navigator. Taking a GPS unit with you is a great way to keep everyone on track or get back on track if you find yourself in some unexpected places. Either leave it on to guide your whole way or only turn it on in emergencies; either way, you'll be glad you had it. Take one of these GPS units, for example. Still stubborn about taking modern day technology on your "into the wilderness" trip? At least take a map and a compass.

For the things that happen after you say, "This couldn't get any worse": Survival kits are the items you hope you never have to use but are glad that you brought if you need them and it's always that one time that you leave them out that they're necessary. So, despite how mild of a trip you plan to be taking, never leave out waterproof matches, a decent knife, a flashlight, a rescue blanket and some water purification tablets. They won't take up that much room but can be a real butt saver in the scheme of things.

Aid of the First: Scars are sexy. Or so we've heard. Bleeding out or having to ride with a broken appendage, not sexy. Unless you're into that kind of thing, bring a first aid kit in case your body takes a beating if something goes south or if you get a blister. Even the smallest of injuries can be a huge pain in your ride. Grab a handful of band-aids, some burn cream, butterfly sutures and sunscreen.

Your ride's survival kit: Just like you might hit something unexpected, your bike might too. And while you may plan your entire trip down to the bathroom breaks, you can't plan for when your ride breaks. Bring with you a small tool kit with all the essentials for patching your trusty steed up. Most multi-tool tool kits will have the basics while staying small and organized so that they're easy to bring with you. Otherwise, make sure to at least have pliers, a screwdriver, Allen wrenches and an adjustable crescent wrench. Whether you're rocking the kit or your own collection, just remember, duct tape and zip ties can fix almost anything, at least temporarily.

You ride's first aid kit: Even on the simplest of rides there's a chance a part could break. Set your bike on its kickstand in a softer area of the road and you could find it chillin' on its side with a broken control lever and no way to get to a new one. If you're planning a more adventurous trip, then spare parts are a definite must have. Depending on the ride you have planned, think about packing some spare levers, bolts, screws, fasteners and even a fresh oil and air filter.

Snackage: Let's face it, we all have alter egos that come out when we're hungry. But you don't want that cranky beast to be the one enjoying your ride when it should be a happily riding you enjoying it. Pack some snacks and plenty of hydrating fluids (no, beer does not count) to keep your stomach sated so you can focus on what really matters. And it won't hurt to bring a little extra, just in case you do get stranded and have to wait it out for help to arrive. You can live a few weeks without eating but why the heck would you want to?

A space suit: Well, maybe just a rain suit instead. No matter how well you plan your trip around the sun, nature has a way of sneaking up on you. So if your parade does happen to get rained on, don't let it slow you down. Pack a Two-Piece Motorcycle Rain suit. Their inexpensive and light weight do they won't weight you down but you'll be glad you have one when you're not trying to ride while being soaked to the core.

Say Cheese: We know it's a little cheesy, no pun intended, but a bringing a camera can immortalize this phenomenal trip you've been planning and dreaming about forever. Whether it's a good ol' fashion camera, a riding camera or even your smart phone's lens, snap a few pictures here and there so that you'll be able to remember it like was yesterday when you're pruney and telling your grandkids about the trip or even when you want to brag to the fools who chose not to take time off work and join you. You'll be happy you did when the trip is over.

A Winning Attitude: Your attitude can have the biggest effect on your trip no matter how perfect everything turns out. As long as you prepare by following the guidelines above, chances are that everything will go smoothly. So be sure that the second you hop on your ride, you've forgotten about all your worldly troubles and are open to anything. You may have most of your trip planned out but allow for the unexpected to happen. And if anyone else on your ride has a bad attitude, don't let them get you down. Just threaten to leave them at the next rest stop if they can't turn their frown upside-down.


______________________________________
Source: Bike Bandit (AP)

Traffic fatalities on the rise in West Texas

The screech of tires on asphalt. A crash.

An ambulance wails, lights flashing, but arrives too late. Another person is killed on a Texas road — It happens every day.

Statewide in 2011, 3,016 people died in 2,797 crashes, according to state and national data. The Big Country is no stranger to fatal crashes: In 2011, 68 people were killed in 66 crashes in the region.

And according to the most recent available statistics, these numbers are trending upward in West Texas.

INVESTIGATIONS

Armando Renteria is a certified crash investigator for the Sweetwater Police Department. He has been in that position since 1999.

“We look at different things, like at which angle did it (the vehicle) leave the roadway? Was it gradual?” Renteria said. “We look at the different skid marks and markings in the median.”

There were 28 recorded crashes in Nolan County from 2008-12. Sweetwater is that county’s seat, which means Renteria has seen his fair share of crashes.

He said investigators use algebra, calculus and trigonometry to determine how crashes happened.

“You know you’re in high school and you say, ‘I’ll never have to do algebra again?' It’s not true in this job,” he said.

The Texas Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study traffic fatalities and publish statistics on them.

Their analysis supports some widely held conventions about traffic fatalities — that driving in excess of the posted speed limit is dangerous, and so is driving a motorcycle.

Other statistics might be more surprising, though:

Single-vehicle crashes account for the majority of traffic fatalities.

More fatal crashes occur on U.S. and state highways than on interstate highways.

Though general data for 2012 is available, 2011 is the most recent available year for in-depth information.

SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASHES

Renteria said single-vehicle accidents — rollovers in particular — can be especially deadly.

“If you’re doing 75 mph and there’s a rollover, you’re bouncing around in that vehicle like crazy,” he said. “You see all kinds of trauma — brain injuries, broken bones.”

Single-vehicle accidents are even more difficult to investigate than other fatal crashes, Renteria said, because frequently the only witness to the crash is dead.

“You have to go back and figure out the root cause of the accident,” he said. “Is there a mechanical defect? Is there some traffic device defect?”

Since 2007 more than half of fatal crashes in Texas have been categorized as single-vehicle crashes.

Common causes of single-vehicle fatalities include rollovers and crashes into stationary objects such as utility poles, concrete barriers, culverts and guard rails.

Vehicles striking trees, light poles and fences are the most common listed causes of single-vehicle fatalities.

Renteria said drowsiness and a phenomenon known as “road hypnosis” can contribute to these types of crashes.

Watching the yellow line as you drive down the road “can make you tired and put you to sleep,” he said.

Renteria stressed the importance of getting a good night’s rest before embarking on road trips. Driving tired just leads to more accidents, he said.

“There’s a certain thing you need to do before you get out on the road. Make sure you get plenty of rest,” he said. “Take plenty of breaks while you’re driving. You don’t have to do it in one trip.”

ARE INTERSTATES REALLY MORE DANGEROUS?

Interstate highways have some of the highest posted speed limits and have the most miles traveled of any roadways in the state, but account for the fewest number of fatal wrecks.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is recognized as the pre-eminent crash investigator in the state.

Spokesman Senior Trooper Phillip “Sparky” Dean said interstates tend to be safer.

“Interstates are for the most part pretty straight,” he said. “You’ve got two lanes going the same direction.”

State and U.S. highways were the leading locations of fatal wrecks in Taylor County from 2008-11, accounting for 24 of 68 fatal crashes.

Dean said this could be explained by people getting complacent with driving on familiar highways.

“People are crashing on a straight piece of roadway,” he said. “A lot of that is the attitude that it’ll never happen to me — This could happen to you. No one is exempt.”

Carol Rawson, TxDOT traffic operations director based in Austin, said interstates are the safest because they’re built the best.

“Our interstate highways are built to our highest standards. We have nice lanes, big shoulders. The interstate is your best level of road,” Rawson said.

U.S. and state highways account for 28,000 miles of Texas roadways. U.S. 83, at 899 miles, is the longest. The state depends on these highways systems to deliver traffic through many of the state’s rural areas, Rawson said.

“The majority of our crashes are occurring in rural Texas,” Rawson said. “People believe the fatalities are happening in our cities.”

Statewide in 2011 more fatal crashes occurred on state and U.S. highways than on any other type of road.

Rawson said the most dangerous of the U.S. and state highways are those with two lanes moving in opposite directions with no center divider between them. TxDOT is planning to place cable barriers on these roads, along with widening some by 2 or 4 feet, she said.

“A lot of highways don’t have edge lines,” Rawson said.

In Nolan and Howard counties, however, interstate wrecks accounted for the most traffic fatalities from 2008-11. In Howard County, most of its 23 crashes were on Interstate 20, mainly near Big Spring. Nolan County saw half of its 20 fatal crashes occur on I-20, mostly near Sweetwater.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Though TxDOT and NHTSA do not keep specific data about distracted driving, Dean identified it as a major cause of highway fatalities.

“There’s all kinds of distractions in today’s vehicles,” the DPS’s Dean said. “That driver needs to do nothing but drive that car. Unfortunately, driving the car is the last thing they’re doing.”

Eating, talking on the phone, texting, smoking and messing with the CD player while driving are some examples of distracted driving.

“We’re making the vehicles safer, but we’re not making the drivers safer,” Dean said.

“The factor has always been there,” Renteria said. “It’s just now ... being looked at a little more with the evolvement of technology. You see these wrecks where the teenager is texting, and they’re deceased now.”

Renteria suggested that parents advise their children to pull over to the side of the road before using their phones to call or text.

“Texting?” he said. “It can wait.”

Dean said that a driver with a learner’s permit is not allowed to use a phone in the car at all.

SPEEDING

Statewide, speeding was a factor in about one third of fatal crashes since 2009, according to data.

In the Big Country, speeding was a factor in about 35 percent of the fatal crashes from 2009-11. It was a factor in nearly all of the crashes in Nolan County in this time period.

In Taylor County speeding was a factor in 39 percent of fatal crashes in that time period.

The speed limit on some interstate, state and U.S. highways was raised from 70 to 75 mph in 2012. U.S. 277 north of Abilene saw the posted speed increase in late 2012.

National and state data hasn’t caught up to reflect this change, but Rawson said she doesn’t expect there to be a substantial uptick in fatality numbers because “most people were traveling at that speed anyway.”

“We’re making sure (speed limits) are safe and appropriate,” Rawson said.

PEDESTRIANS

In the state in 2011, 418 pedestrians were killed by vehicles.

Pedestrian-vehicle fatalities in Texas increased by 17 percent in 2011 from the previous year, a jump to 418 deaths from 357.

Three pedestrian deaths were recorded in the Big Country in 2011. In Taylor County, one pedestrian was killed on Key Lane, south of Potosi. One was killed in Eastland County on County Road 323, and another was killed in Brown County on U.S. 183.

In Abilene already this year, two pedestrians have been killed by vehicles. Tina H. Brown was killed in early January by a pickup as she was crossing South First Street. Zachery Joseph Melton was killed by a pickup as he was walking at night on Sayles Boulevard a few days later. Also in January a Ranger woman was killed while trying to help motorists who were involved in a multivehicle accident on Ranger Hill.

“We’re having a lot of pedestrians killed on our highways,” Rawson said.

MOTORCYCLES

From 2007-11 in Taylor County, 29 percent of motor vehicle fatalities involved motorcyclists.

About 43 percent of those killed were wearing helmets.

In the state, motorcycle fatalities accounted for about 11 percent of fatalities for that time period.

About half of the 471 people killed in motorcycle crashes in 2011 were wearing helmets.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of motorcycle fatalities,” Rawson said. “That can be attributed to gas prices that have gone up. There’s a group of baby boomers that love getting the Harley motorcycles when maybe they’re not so familiar using them.”

TxDOT estimates that 127 motorcyclists were saved by wearing helmets in 2011.

If all of them wore helmets — instead of the observed rate of 46 percent — the agency figures 94 more lives could be saved.

In January, Clayton Dowlin Johnson, 18, was killed on when his motorcycle collided with an SUV on South Treadaway Boulevard.

His passenger was taken to Hendrick Medical Center and survived. Both Johnson and his passenger were wearing helmets.

SEAT BELTS

Even though the state has had a seat belt law since 1985, it wasn’t until 2010 that all passengers, including those in the back seat, had to buckle up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports seat belt use in Texas has remained at about 94 percent for the most recent two-year period (2010-11).

Rawson said TxDOT is focused on getting the percentage of the population who don’t wear a seat belt to start wearing one.

“That group, if we could get them to buckle up, the fatality number would go down,” she said. “When you’re thrown out of the vehicle, your chance of dying goes up.”

“Who in Texas does not know that it’s the law to wear a seat belt?” Dean said.

TxDOT estimates 200 lives could have been saved in 2011 if everyone wore a seat belt.

In Taylor County in 2011, more than half of people killed in motor vehicle crashes were wearing seat belts, six of 11.

DWI

About a third of traffic fatalities in the state in 2011 involved drivers with blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher, which is the legal blood alcohol limit for operating a vehicle in Texas.

The percentage of official crashes involving a drunken driver have risen slightly from 2007 to 2011, despite increased educational campaigns, and DPS trooper and city police patrols near holidays.

Troopers currently are increasing spring break patrols until March 17.

“Impaired driving is the most hazardous occurrence on our roadways, but it’s also the most avoidable,” said Warren Diepraam, vehicular crimes prosecutor for Montgomery County. “If you’re unlucky you may kill yourself or someone else. It’s just not worth the risk.”

More DWI traffic fatalities occur in Texas than in any other state: 1,213 deaths were recorded in 2011.

Diepraam said those numbers would be even higher if all drunken driving deaths were properly recorded.

“That number is a significant underestimate,” he said.

Diepraam said depending on the time and location of DWI-related deaths, a fatality crash might not be recorded as a drunken driving death.

A fatal crash that occurred in a private neighborhood is one example, he said.

The prosecutor, who has been at the scene of more than 1,000 fatal crashes, said he works hard to send a message to potential DWI offenders.

“The message that we like to send is that vehicular homicide is a crime, and it’s a violent crime,” Diepraam said. “If you kill somebody, you need to go to prison.”

_______________________________________

Source: Reporter News (Collins, 3/9)

Blowout's Biker Bash!!!

The second annual Blowout's Biker Bash will be held March 14th through March 17th at the 10 Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock, Texas.

What better way to celebrate St Patrick ’s Day, than with hot chicks, four days of non-stop music, and booze?

Due to the high amount of nudity and booze the bash will be providing for all of you, no one under 21 is allowed in.

The bash will be hosting bike games, bike shows, fun runs, wet T-shirt contest, naughty leprechaun contest, best St. Patty's Themed Campsite, and amazing live music ALL weekend long.

You can buy your own beer or you can buy some at the vendor stands.

The Jonathan Mitchell Band and Sloppy Joe; just to name a few; will be some of the many bands that will be performing.

Gates will open at 8 am throughout the whole weekend.

Even though pre-registration is closed, day passes can still be purchased at the gate for the low price of $35.Self contained RV site price is $140, which includes 2 passes and a limited edition event T-shirt!!!

So come on down to the Blowout's Biker Bash! Rain or shine you are guaranteed to have a great time.

Revving up for the Wild Hog Motorcycle and Music Rally

Get your bikes revved up and mark your calendar the weekend of April 25-28 when the Wild Hog Motorcycle Rally and Music returns for an 11th engagement.

The 2013 lineup was officially unveiled Tuesday night at a special Business After Hours held at the Wild Hog Saloon. Delbert McClinton, a regular performer at the King Biscuit Blues Festival, will headline this year's Wild Hog Music Festival.

A Texas native, McClinton grew up listening to Bob Willis and His Texas Playboys. Some of the masters of blues music served as his tutors including Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson. During a tour of England, McClinton demonstrated a few of his harmonica licks to a young John Lennon. The lineup card also includes a return engagement by 7 Bridges The Ultimate Eagles Experience, The Return – A Beatles Flashback, Geneva, Grand Theft Audio and Purfek Daze. The times of the performances will be announced at a later date. Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Geneva and her self-titled band have been touring for several years. They were the first band to perform for U.S. troops in the Middle East at the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Geneva has written, recorded and released 5 CDs featuring songs primarily inspired by their experiences on the bike rally circuit. Geneva filmed a reality show, “Geneva's Rock –N-Ride”, which airs seasonally on select Fox networks. She has graced the cover of over a dozen mainstream biker magazine covers. This year marks Geneva's 10th anniversary headlining the biker world.

 Besides all the live music and full display of motorcycles, all of the usual activities are on tap for this year's festival. They include field events such as the poker run, weenie bite, burn out, slow race, balloon toss and more. There will be a bike parade and bike show plus all the food you can eat. Other events on the card are the Dyno Shootout, mechanical bull rides, the ever-popular Ms. Wild Hog Beauty Contest and new this year, oil wrestling. The festival will open Thursday evening April 25 with the traditional early bird and registration party for early registrants, sponsors, volunteers and wild hog riders groups. The event will close Sunday, morning April 28 with a worship service and the blessing of the bikes.

_______________________________________
Source: Helena-Arkansas (Hogan, 2/14)