2024 -- H 8229

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY OF 2024, TO BE "MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, AND JOYOUSLY CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE RHODE ISLAND MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Quattrocchi, Rea, Nardone, Roberts, Edwards, and Casey

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association was started in 1974 in West

Warwick, as a nonprofit motorcycle rights organization to protect the freedoms of riders in Rhode

Island through safety, education and legislation; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association has worked closely with

Governors, legislators and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to advance the

freedom of choice and the safety of motorcycle riders in Rhode Island with fair and equitable

solutions; and

     WHEREAS, Motorcycle riding is an economical and popular form of transportation

enjoyed by about eight percent of the American people. It provides a more efficient mode of

transportation than cars or trucks, uses up fewer resources, causes less wear and tear on our roads

and highways, and increases available parking spaces; and

     WHEREAS, Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence, with

estimates suggesting that such incidents occur approximately once every eight minutes in

America and account for more than 14 percent of all traffic facilities, despite the fact only 3

percent of all registered vehicles are motorcycles; and

     WHEREAS, Because motorcycles don’t have seat belts or air bags, and they are much

smaller than cars, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than those driving cars;

and

     WHEREAS, As of January of 2023, the total number of public, personal, and commercial

motorcycles registered in the United States and the District of Columbia totaled approximately

8.8 million, with 24,833 registered in Rhode Island as of 2021; and

     WHEREAS, Data reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety

Administration (NHTSA) states that on average, almost 5,000 motorcyclists die in traffic

accidents every year in the United States which is around 16 motorcyclists killed per day; and

     WHEREAS, Distracted driving poses one of the biggest dangers to other motorists,

especially motorcyclists. Distractions can be any activity that takes a driver's focus off the task of

driving, including eating and drinking, talking or texting on the phone, and numerous other

distractions, all of which pose serious dangers to the motorcycle driving public; and

     WHEREAS, While there are no prescribed means to prevent motorcycle wrecks, greater

awareness of motorist safety and potential existing risks can arm riders with the knowledge they

need to help mitigate dangerous situations while on the road; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims May of 2024, to be "Motorcycle Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island, urges

all motorists to avoid distracted driving, and joyously celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the

Rhode Island Motorcycle Association; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association.

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