Motorcylists in Iowa need to take more precautions in their attire and in their driving habits, according to Scott Falb, the traffic safety specialist for the Iowa Department of Transportation. Falb says the number of Iowans getting killed on two wheelers is on the rise. Iowa had 39 motorcycle fatalities in 2001. That’s seven fatalities higher than the year before. Falb says few, if not all, of the people killed in Iowa motorcycle crashes were not wearing helmets. The D-O-T has just released its death toll totals in all motor vehicle crashes statewide from 2001. Falb says that picture is improving.There were 450 fatalities last year, that’s five more than in the year 2000, but it’s down from the five-year average of 463. As for the current year, Falb says Iowa is about on track.There’ve been 90 fatalities so far this year, that’s one more than where we were on this date last year. To make sure Iowa motorcyclists have the necessary skills to ride safely, the D-O-T is changing the motorcycle testing standards used at all D-O-T driver license stations. The new procedure will add higher-speed evasive maneuvers to the lower-speed testing already performed. The new testing starts May 1st.
