Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month proclaimed in the City of Clarksville

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, in conjunction with Ward 2 City Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin, has proclaimed May 2024 as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month in the City of Clarksville.

Statistics for motorcycle crashes and fatalities, both locally and nationally, are alarming

In Clarksville, between May 23, 2023, and April 9, 2024, there were 139 crashes involving motorcycles. Eleven of those were fatal crashes for a total of 12 people killed.

Motorcyclists are urged to wear U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmets to reduce the risk of injury and death.

Speeding has continually been a major contributing factor in motorcycle crashes in Clarksville and throughout the nation.

The proclamation says, "It is the responsibility of all who put themselves behind the wheel, to become aware of motorcyclists, regarding them with the same respect as any other vehicle traveling the highways of this country ..."

"It is the responsibility of all motorcycle operators to ride safely ... to obey all traffic laws, speed limits, and safety rules."

Shown in the photo are, from left, Mayor Pitts; Chad Koyoma, Community Relations Commander for the Clarksville Police Department; and Councilperson McLaughlin.