The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been named the ‘World’s Largest Biker Rally’ by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sturgis, a small town in South Dakota, where the population was measured as 6,796 in 2020, has historically hosted approximately 500,000 people during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This rally reached a high of over 700,000 in 2015.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2020, 5,579 motorcyclists were involved in fatal accidents on the roads.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgensen has assisted covering the highways on the Wyoming side of the Sturgis rally for approximately 14 years. In that time, he has been involved in the investigations of many motorcycle accidents.
Phoning into the show from Sundance, Jorgensen told listeners of Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, although it is legal to forgo the use of a helmet while riding in Wyoming, he advises the use of helmets to every rider he interacts with while on the road.
Lt. E. Jorgensen
Jorgensen also addressed motorists, asking them to take a second look to ensure no bikes are in their path before making a turn or merging during this time of year.
Lt. E. Jorgensen
For information on identifying the difference between safe and unsafe motorcycle helmets, click here.
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Last modified: August 9, 2022