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Peoria nonprofit awarded $100,000 grant for motorcycle rider training scholarships

May is Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month

Posted 5/24/20

Peoria-based Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The grant will be used to provide motorcycle rider training classes to the public through a scholarship program.

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Peoria nonprofit awarded $100,000 grant for motorcycle rider training scholarships

May is Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month

Posted

Peoria-based Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The grant will be used to provide motorcycle rider training classes to the public through a scholarship program.

The nonprofit thanked AZGOHS director Alberto Gutier for his continued support for motorcycle safety in Arizona.

“AMSAF is excited to continue giving out scholarships to help educate new and present riders,” AMSAF executive director Mick Degn said in  news release. “This continues to be the largest single activity we do to promote motorcycle safety and awareness and to help reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities. This will allow anyone in the state of Arizona to apply for, and receive, motorcycle training. The only cost is a $100 non-refundable co-pay. Since we started offering scholarships, AMSAF has provided more than 2,500 in Arizona to help educate riders.”

In addition to providing yet more scholarships, looking forward, AMSAF plans to:

  • develop unique partnerships with Arizona businesses to help reduce crashes and fatalities,
  • research and identify dangerous intersections and stretches of roadways where most motorcycle accidents occur,
  • increase participation in rider training through discount incentives,
  • identify key industry liaisons that can help further the message and promote AMSAF’s efforts through activities, events and outreach opportunities.

While Arizona’s roadways have been a bit more tranquil during the pandemic, the traffic soon will return to normal, which means busy roadways and reduced respect for riders and drivers. And, that means time for a renewed concentration on safety.

With May being Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month, AMSAF is playing a key role in the launch of a statewide effort known as Share the Road, which is geared to significantly reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on Arizona roadways.

As AMSAF joins key business partners in spreading the word about safety, the nonprofit also is providing discounted rider scholarships, offers a unique helmet program with substantial savings to protect riders and provides startling yet critical information about the importance of roadway respect with the millions of drivers returning to Arizona’s streets and highways.

Last year, along with more than 3,100 motorcycle and 123,000 other vehicle crashes in which people were hurt, there were record numbers of fatalities. As noted recently by Gov. Doug Ducey, the time is now to focus drivers and riders on the critical importance of sharing the road with respect and being completely aware of one’s surroundings.

Last year, the economic loss due to vehicle crashes was more than $10 billion. And some 126,987 crashes took place in Arizona alone, according to Mr. Degn.

Mr. Degn said the Share the Road program is a statewide public awareness effort aimed at focusing Arizona motorists on the critical need to pay attention when driving and provide scholarships, statewide, to train motorcyclists how to ride more defensively.

AMSAF has collaborated with RideNow Powersports Cycle Gear, Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson, Desert Wind Harley Davidson and The Helmet Center to develop a helmet program that will help individuals to garner a quality department of transportation helmet with some financial assistance from AMSAF and a 25% discount from these dealers. The program affords people the opportunity to purchase a good full-face or modular DOT helmet at a reduced cost, which is crucial to people during unsure economic times.