UNDATED (KELO-AM) Patience on South Dakota roads will be a virtue during the 76th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that opens Monday August 8.
There were 16 traffic deaths during the 2015 Sturgis Rally reporting period. Last year’s rally drew a record crowd of more than 700,000. Law enforcement doesnt expect as many this rally, more like a typical year, but that still means tens of thousands of extra vehicles and motorcyles in the state.
"Its gonna cause backlogs, its gonna cause intersections and areas where they may be unexpected vehicle stops in the roadway," says Lt. Paul Gerken with the South Dakota Highway Patrol, referring especially to the winding up-and-down roads in the Black Hills.
Lee Axdahl, director of the state Office of Highway Safety, says its all about not being distracted while driving.
“Being alert for those around you and watching for changes in traffic patterns can help reduce the possibility of a crash. We want everyone to have a good time, but also stay safe,” says Axdahl.
Rally visitors are encouraged to visit the Office of Highway Safety’s website at http://www.southdakotarides.com/. The site includes safety tips, motorcycle laws and regulations and a virtual ride feature that gives novice riders or bikers unfamiliar with South Dakota roads a chance to study various routes and gauge the difficulty of the ride compared to their level of skill on a motorcycle.
Rally attendees looking for real-time public safety information about the Sturgis Rally can also follow four Twitter sites at @SDPublicSafety, @SDHighwayPatrol, @SouthDakotaDOT and @RallyTraffic.
The official dates of the 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are Monday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 14.
