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	CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: September 17, 2007	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

URGES MOTORCYCLISTS TO BE SAFE

With summer in full swing in Connecticut, motorcyclists are taking advantage of the warm weather to enjoy riding their favorite routes throughout the state.  Whether it’s to get to work or to enjoy a scenic ride along one of the state’s many rural roads, riding a motorcycle is a great way to stay cool and enjoy the summer.  New safe riding courses allow more Connecticut riders immediate access to life saving training.

More people discover the joy of riding each year and with more riders there are bound to be motorcycle crashes.  There were more than 1260 motorcycle crashes in 2006, compared with 1266 in 2005 and 1158 in 2004. Those statistics include 43 fatalities in 2006, 42 in 2005 and 54 in 2004.

In order to reduce crashes and deaths, the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Connecticut Rider Education Program (CONREP), provides motorcycle education courses at 14 locations throughout the state.  The CONREP program currently trains more than 5,500 motorcyclists per year.

  The focus in these courses is safe riding, and instruction for riders of all skill levels from novice to experienced are offered.  The Basic Rider Course is the most popular one offered by CONREP, teaching basic principles both in the classroom and on-cycle training to help students prepare for on-road situations.  Basic maneuvering techniques and safety precautions are the staples of this course.

The CONREP program often fills classes in the early spring, often producing waiting lists. Through the summer and into the fall, new classes are added allowing for immediate openings at many locations throughout the state.  Currently, the 14 sites located around the state will all have open classes through late summer and fall.

Benefits of the Basic Rider Course include learning life-saving riding skills and a waiver of any on-cycle skills testing when applying at the Department of Motor Vehicles for a motorcycle license endorsement.  Insurance discounts are also available for course graduates.