The total number of deaths in drunk driving accidents across the nation dropped in 2007, according to new federal data. But there was a worrisome footnote: The number of motorcyclists killed in such accidents, while small, rose sharply.
Total DUI fatalities declined nationally from 13,491 to 12,998, or 3.7 percent. But the subset involving motorcycles increased from 1,299 to 1,431, or 10.2 percent, federal officials said.
Half the states saw increases in the numbers of motorcyclists killed, led by Virginia, which saw motorcyclists’ deaths more than triple, rising from 12 to 37.
US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said in a statement that the totals were good news, but the motorcycle numbers were disappointing.
Mark your calendar for Saturday August 30th 2008 and bring your family out to the Ranch Compound, as the Thunder in the Rockies and American Military Family.ORG honors our troops and their families.
Want to see the latest videos being added to you tube, check out Sturgis 2008. You will see videos like this one from DZ672, it’s just been added and all ready has 130 global hits. If you have never been to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, or if you have and didn’t get out of town, or get away from your campsite, this well shot video, with background music by the Allman Brothers will get you out of town and on the road, to the sites of Crazy Horse, Hill City, Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, and back through the Needles Highway, with a burn-out competition in between.
The 68th Annual Sturgis Black Hills Motorcycle Rally officially came to a close Sunday night. Three people lost their lives in crashes during rally week, compared to five last year. This is from the official Rally toll, which only runs from Monday, Aug. 4, to Sunday, Aug. 10. The total number of world-wide bikers, who may have lost their lives in crashes, either on their journey to the rally or on their way home would be impossible to track, but would be an interesting statistic.
Other Statistics; Total drunken driving and drug arrests in the Black Hills were down slightly from last year.
Officers made 479 arrests during rally week, compared to 510 last year. The total number of tickets written for all violations was 1,619 – an increase of 38 percent from 2007. They had to make up for the loss in rally revenue some how.
