2023 -- H 6336
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LC002853
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY OF 2023, TO BE "MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND URGING ALL RHODE ISLAND MOTORISTS TO
AVOID DISTRACTED DRIVING
Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Edwards, Perez, Noret, Finkelman, Corvese, and McNamara
Date Introduced: April 27, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Motorcycle riding is an economical and popular form of transportation 1
enjoyed by about fourteen percent of the American people. It provides a more efficient mode of 2
transportation than cars or trucks, uses up fewer resources, causes less wear and tear on our roads 3
and highways, and increases available parking spaces; and 4
WHEREAS, Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence, with 5
estimates suggesting that such incidents occur approximately once every eight minutes in 6
America and account for 14 percent of all traffic facilities, despite the fact only 3 percent of all 7
registered vehicles are motorcycles; and 8
WHEREAS, Because motorcycles don’t have seat belts or air bags, and they are much 9
smaller than cars, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a crash than those driving cars; 10
and 11
WHEREAS, As of January of 2021, the total number of public, personal, and commercial 12
motorcycles registered in the United States and the District of Columbia totaled approximately 13
8.32 million, with approximately 24,833 motorcycles registered in Rhode Island; and 14
WHEREAS, Data reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety 15
Administration (NHTSA) states that on average, more than 5,000 motorcyclists die in traffic 16
accidents every year in the United States which is around 15 motorcyclists killed per day; and 17
WHEREAS, Distracted driving poses one of the biggest dangers to other motorists, 18
especially motorcyclists. Distractions can be any activity that takes a drivers’ focus off the task of 19
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driving, including eating and drinking, talking or texting on the phone, and numerous other 1
distractions, all of which pose serious dangers to the motorcycle driving public; and 2
WHEREAS, While there are no prescribed means to prevent motorcycle wrecks, greater 3
awareness of motorist safety and potential existing risks can arm riders with the knowledge they 4
need to help mitigate dangerous situations while on the road; now, therefore be it 5
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 6
proclaims May of 2023, to be "Motorcycle Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island and 7
urges all motorists to avoid distracted driving; and be it further 8
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 9
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association. 10
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LC002853
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