Beginning on Tuesday, 545 ‘Watch for Motorcycles’ signs to be installed along Fowler Ave. in front of USF to remember the number of motorcycle fatalities in 2016
TAMPA, Fla. (April 30, 2018) – May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness month and the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) wants motorcyclists and motorists to work together to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities across the state.
In an effort to raise awareness, CUTR is temporarily installing 545 yard signs, reading ‘Watch For Motorcycles,’ along Fowler Ave. between Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Leroy Collins Blvd. The number 545 represents one for every Floridian killed in motorcycle crashes in 2016. The signs, which will be up from May 1-3, are part of a statewide initiative lead by Ride Smart Florida aimed at eliminating motorcycle fatalities on the first three days of May and raising public awareness of the issue.
“The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the USF is one of only a few transportation research centers in the country to have a dedicated team examining motorcycle safety issues,” Chanyoung Lee, PhD, program director of CUTR’s Motorcycle Injury Prevention team, said. “As members of our community, we want to help promote awareness and hope this display will remind riders and drivers to watch out for one another.”
In 2016, motorcyclists accounted for nearly 17 percent of all traffic fatalities in Florida, despite only accounting for about three percent of the total vehicle registrations. For the past three years, the state has had the highest number of motorcycle fatalities in country – a statistic researchers at CUTR hope to change through research, education and public outreach.
Along with CUTR’s display on Fowler Ave., Ride Smart Florida has organized several other online awareness events.
- Visit the Ride Smart Florida website.
- Use the Ride Smart Florida Facebook Frame.
- Use the social media hashtag #MotorcycleFatalityFree123 on all of your motorcycle related posts.
- Sign the Ride Smart motorcycle safety pledge.
- Request your own yard sign and poster to display during Motorcycle Safety Awareness month.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three, separately accredited institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 49,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the Top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2016, the Florida Legislature designated USF as “Emerging Preeminent,” placing USF in an elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.