New Hampshire Motorcycle Safety Awareness Campaign

Laconia Motorcycle week is approaching fast, but New Hampshire’s Safety Awareness Campaign is in full force. The purpose of the campaign is to reduce motorcycle accidents through education and safety training. New Hampshire state law only requires motorcyclists under the age of 18 to wear helmets, and the legislature doesn’t intend on enacting any new helmet laws. The New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency believes that their promotion of safe riding practices will help reduce motorcycle fatalities, though they still recommend motorcyclists, especially novice riders, to wear helmets.

The campaign urges the public to be mindful of motorcyclists, share the roads and maintain safe following distances. The campaign also suggests motorcyclists participate in the Motorcycle Rider Training Program with the Division of Motor Vehicles, or with one of two private companies that offer such a program. The class focuses on instructing proper turning techniques, stopping techniques and how to avoid collisions. The class also recommends riders use helmets. Of roughly 64,000 motorcyclists registered in the state of New Hampshire, only 3,000 took the DMV classes, and only 650 took classes with private companies.