For the first time in Colorado history, there were more than 100 motorcycle deaths in a single year on our roadways.
The death total reached triple digits at 106, according to new statistics released by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Statistics show 78 percent of the deaths were people between 16-55 of age and 94 percent of those were men.
Additionally, Denver, Jefferson and El Paso Counties saw 40 percent of motorcycle deaths.
Long-time riders said that while riding on two wheels is dangerous, it's car drivers who are causing most of the dangers.
“It's inherently dangerous, and then you add every soccer mom and everybody with a cell phone and finding out where the next party is or what time they're picking their kid up or text this, text that... they're not paying attention, and at 60 miles an hour, that's a football field a second," said Jeff Cramer.
CDOT’s newest study shows an 11.7 percent increase in deaths from 2014 and a 20 percent increase since 2013, something that’s sparking a new safety campaign from the state.
Riders also said the best way to stay alive on the streets is to ride defensively.
“It's something where you just don't ride next to other cars, I stay away from them, I'm either in front of them or behind them," said David Kosak, who sells motorcycles.
“My rule is to get past them and get in front of them as fast as I can, which my 130 moving violations will attest to," said Cramer.
CDOT’s safety campaign is targeting new riders. If you would like more information on where to find training courses, log in to COMotorcycleSafety.com.
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