SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month; meaning authorities are asking everyone to be on the lookout for motorcycle riders because sometimes they are hard to see.
A Sioux Falls man is echoing those same concerns, because he too was involved in a bad wreck 37 years ago and prays it never happens again.
Tim Larson still rides motorcycles today despite what happened to him and his wife Pam back in 1988.
“We just rebuilt my bike, painted it, got on it for the first time, was going to go downtown for a beverage and made it eight blocks from the house; a guy ran a blind intersection and we t-boned him,” Larson said.
Larson only suffered minor bumps and bruises….
“I didn’t break anything, it broke my spirit,” Larson said.
but his wife broke her leg. He saved the newspaper article from that accident; that’s them laying on the pavement.
Their accident has changed how they ride now.
“Well you know we all share the road and my message is to the people in their car just to put the phone down and try to stay close to the speed limit, I don’t ride in town anymore, it’s just not safe,” Larson said.
The number of deaths and injuries caused by accidents involving motorcycles is staggering, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Because motorcycles are smaller than cars and trucks, they can be more difficult to see.
“We just want people to be aware that the bikes are back out on the roads,” Dave Brende of Those Guys Abate said.
Brende wants drivers to pay attention now that the weather is getting warmer.
“Take a little extra time, look twice, check your mirrors twice; we just don’t want any accidents,” Brende said.
He brought this along for his interview.
“You’ll be seeing these signs all around the state, just as a little reminder to watch for motorcycles out on the road just one more thing to keep in mind,” Brende said.
Larson already has one posted in his front yard. But his real sign to stay safe comes from up above.
“When I ride my bike now, I usually say a prayer and I thank him when I get back to the garage,” Larson said.
They also suggest giving bikers more following distance; it gives them more room to perform emergency stops or maneuvers for road hazards like gravel, potholes, or standing water.
