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State Officials Urge Safety As More Motorcycles Hit The Road

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and state officials are urging all drivers to share the road.

The Governor's Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are warning that more motorcycles will be out as the weather gets warmer.

State figures show there were 2,710 known crashes involving a motorcycle last year that resulted in 121 deaths.

Dr. Brad Dennis, Director of Trauma Outreach and Education at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, warns that the biggest threat to motorcyclists are other drivers. He urged drivers to be mindful of all their surroundings, especially motorcycles.

The doctor, speaking at a recent press event with state officials, said the most important thing motorcyclists can do to protect themselves is wear appropriate gear, including a full-face helmet.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)