(CONYERS, GA) - The Department of Driver Services’ (DDS) Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GSMP) has received a grant for $135,487 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The grant cycle will run from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. This funding will be used to help reduce motorcycle fatalities, increase driver awareness of motorcycles, and help train motorcycle riders on how to ride safely.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile rider. “Together, the DDS and GOHS continue to provide quality rider education and safety awareness messages across the state.

We are excited that the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program was, once again, the recipient of this grant to continue their service to the citizens of Georgia,” said DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore.

The GOHS grant allows the Motorcycle Safety Program to continue its efforts promoting state and national safety initiatives. GMSP promotes driver awareness of motorcycles on the highways, rider education at 14 locations across the state, and motorcycle safety initiatives.

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with all of our highway safety partners to reverse the increase in traffic deaths we have seen in the United States in the last two years and the goal of this project is to prevent crashes and save lives on our roads,” Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said.

“We ask everyone to join the mission of saving lives on our roads by driving the speed limit, wearing your seat belt, staying off the phone when driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

The GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders and experienced riders. Classes focus on riding a motorcycle legally and safely. The GSMP offers classes with increasing levels of difficulty including the Basic Rider’s Course (BCR), the Basic Rider Course2 (BRC2) and the Advanced Rider Course (ARC).

The BRC is for new riders and students do not need a motorcycle or equipment to take this class. Upon passing this class, a rider obtains a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills test needed to earn a Class M license in Georgia.

“Because a formally trained rider is a safer rider, we want to ensure everyone has access to proper rider education,” said Holly Hegyesi, GSMP Program Manager.

“Motorcycle safety classes are essential for new and experienced riders alike. Almost one third of motorcycle fatalities involves a rider without a valid training or license.”

You can find GSMP on Facebook (Georgia Department of Driver Services), Instagram (georgiadds) and Twitter(@georgiadds).Go to https://dds.georgia.gov/motorcycle-safety-program to enroll in a motorcycle class.

The Department of Driver Services now has an app: DDS 2 Go. Download it to take care of many of your DDS needs.