Sig 11-10 Second.p65 - Oklahoma Department of Public Safety

Oklahoma’s newly reorganized
motorcycle safety committee meets
Group will recommend use of funds from state’s new fee increase
By Alice Collinsworth
OHSO Communications Manager
Members of the newly reorganized Advisory
Committee for Motorcycle Safety and Education
met Friday at the Oklahoma Highway Safety
Office. This meeting is the first since the
passage of legislation allowing the state to add a
$3 fee, designated for motorcycle safety and
education, to the existing cost of registering a
motorcycle.
The legislation, which takes effect Nov. 1,
established a revolving fund into which the
money is to be deposited; members of the
Advisory Committee will recommend the use of
these funds. Money will be used to educate
motorcyclists themselves regarding operational
rules and safety, and also will fund programs to
educate motorists on sharing the road safely
with motorcycles.
“This new funding will help make our roadways
safer for everyone,” said Kevin Behrens,
committee chairman and assistant director of
the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
“Motorcycle registrations are on the increase in
Oklahoma, and the owners themselves are
willing to foot this bill because they know this
funding will help reduce deaths and injuries.”
According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission,
there were 123,906 motorcycles registered in
the state in 2009. This is a 7.4 percent increase
over the 115,381 registered motorcycles in
2008.
According to OSHO statistics, 105 motorcyclist
fatalities were reported in 2009; 1,269
motorcyclists were injured.
Other committee members include instructors
and owner/operators John Pierce, Collinsville;
Terri Collier, Stillwater; Dan Newman, Oklahoma
City; Don Browning, McLoud; and Ron Peirce,
Moore. Completing the committee are Frank
Stone, Oklahoma Insurance Department,
appointed by Insurance Commissioner Kim
Holland; and Sgt. Acey Hopper, Edmond Police
Department, representing OHSO.
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