A Lot Going On

by John Reblin

Hello again for another month! I want to, or at least try to, wrap my head around what I hear may be the new normal around here, for the time being. Face masks, no I won’t wear one. Keeping away as far as I can while doing what I need or want to do, along with struggling to get enough work to see to myself and show my employer that I am essential enough to stay employed all the while talking to people I know who are struggling to hang onto their businesses, trying to do what they can to make enough cash to survive.

With the 2020 riding season getting up and running we are tracking some fatalities. When the Highway Safety Committee hears about these, we try looking for trends that we can use to educate road users how to prevent and reduce these types of crashes. Tim Tomann (thanks for the help) and I spend a few hours every week looking at data, checking sources, getting reports regarding what is happening. We talk about what we see, argue about what we would like to see, and then meet somewhere in the middle and move forward.

After the 2012 riding season, as a committee we decided that 43 percent of riders that died that year was an unacceptable number and we decided to create a poster urging all riders to obtain a motorcycle endorsement operator’s license. We felt that endorsement would show that at one point the rider had the knowledge and skills to safely handle their motorcycle on the roadway. These riders would be able to brake, steer through a corner, safely stop, and make good decisions so they could make it to their destination safely.

During a few MoSAC meetings when discussing the possible issues in getting tested to get a motorcycle license at the local DMV, we talked about having the Rider Education Schools being approved to do these road tests at their training sites. We felt that the instructors would be able to make sure these riders would be able to ride their motorcycles on Wisconsin roads, and give riders trying to get that appointment to get tested, an opportunity to do so. As of our last meeting this was still not an option.

So, this second week of May after week 300 (sarcasm inserted here) of the Corona Virus the yet to be confirmed Secretary of Transportation has made it possible for young drivers to avoid taking their road test to obtain their auto license. The word is that the DMV are getting quite the backlog of testing requests and they wish to clean up some of this backlog in order to reduce some of the wait time. So, someone under age 18, that completed a driver’s ed course and the 30 hours of tracked practice, only needs to have a parent or guardian sign off on this road test stipulation. The parent or guardian can still opt to have their dependent take the test, but I would guess that most will just sign off on it. This is supposed to be a temporary thing for the next 6-9 months, but to make it permanent it will call for legislative action if research shows that there is not an appreciable increase in crashes by these drivers. Hopefully, with these developments we can work together and make sure that there is some sort of formal testing and that the increase in crashes does not happen. A possible solution is, again, 3^rd party testing and hopefully that will give us an opportunity to talk third party testing for motorcycle riders as well.

What else are we doing in Highway Safety? Well I am excited to see the MRF and the Ride your Own Ride campaign! I think this is a great thing and hopefully we can build from this program and get something going in Wisconsin that riders will see and listen to, and that hits home. If we can educate riders of things going on, it raises their awareness and hopefully corrects mistakes they are making which will reduce crashes. A good thing, right?

Our billboards are up, awareness rallies are going on or are scheduled. I have been getting some requests for think logos, and extra yard signs. Doris and I are working on some videos, between the weather, work, and those home projects these are not going as fast as I wanted, but we hope to get a couple out this spring.

Remember that it is election time. Both with our state and federal government and within our organization. On the public side help out someone that you feel good about getting elected. They appreciate the help and they remember those that help them get elected. It does not have to be financial help, it can be phone calls, handing out fliers, ringing doorbells, or if there is a parade in the area walking it. Contact your person and ask, how can I help.

We also have elections in our organization from regional rep all the way up to the Executive Director. Consider running for a position, helping to guide this organization into the future. And of course, please turn in your ballot.

John