Date: 11/16/2006
From: Clifton.Burdette@txdps.state.tx.us
I've been involved in motorcycle safety at one level or another since 1979. This is not "just a job." Motorcycle safety is something that I believe in. I believe that if all of our efforts saves the life of one rider, we've done our job.
Our goal is to get as many people involved in the motorcycle safety efforts as possible. The DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit employees seven dedicated individuals. We administer the Motorcycle Operator Training and Safety program and the ATV Safety Training Programs. With each of those programs comes many related sub-programs such as a legislatively-mandated moped certification program and helmet exemption sticker program.
We have about 80 motorcycle safety training locations statewide and 600 dedicated RiderCoaches that teach Basic and Advanced Motorcycle Safety Courses in whatever weather the great state of Texas can throw at them. Over 29,000 Texans took the basic or advanced course last year.
In our spare time we get involved in as many public awareness functions as we can. Each year we staff a booth at the motorcycle show in San Antonio and have a mobile training unit on display at the Republic of Texas Biker Rally. Recently we had a Mobile Training Unit on display at an Orange County Chopper bike build event here in Austin. At each of these events we get to speak with a variety of folks, some that are riders and some that want to be. Many of the folks we speak with are looking for course information for for themselves or for a relative. Some just stop by to thank us or relate their experiences while taking a course.
Try as we might, our staff members cannot do it all. Insuring that motorist awareness materials are produced and distributed where they can do the most good is a significant job in itself. As a state agency we can develop the materials, print the materials and distribute the materials. We distributed nearly 350,000 pieces of promotional material last year. We can distribute public service announcements to the TV stations but we cannot pay for air time on the radio or TV. We can pay to post a bulletin board but we cannot pay to keep it there.
Motorcyclists tell us to let them know when and if we need help. As a state agency, we can respond if someone volunteers help but we cannot solicit help.
I think it would be really cool if motorcycle enthusiasts, clubs or groups would commit to adopting a billboard in their area, however, we cannot solicit that kind of help. Maybe these same folks could visit with driver training schools, insurance agencies, et., etc. in their areas to promote motorist awareness, or at least drop off some of our CycleVision literature. We can provide the literature, we cannot provide the leg-power.
I'll sign off for now. I'm looking forward to working together to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes and resulting injuries and fatalities.
For information about motorcycling in Texas, check our web page, www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb. If I can be of any further assistance, call me at 512/424-2803 or 1-800-292-5787 or email me at clifton.burdette@txdps.state.tx.us.
Sincerely,
Clif Burdette
Coordinator
DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit
NOTE FROM BTTRFLY: For those of ya'l who want to help with motorcycle awareness, you can contact Clif to find out how to receive printed material (ie posters, etc) to distribute to your local Driver Education classes.
Clif is a very easy man to contact and very concerned with helping us get any information we need to help promote motorcycle awareness.
Thanks Clif, for taking time to send out this great message to let the bikers know more about what we can all be doing to help out. ~Bttrfly
here's a good pict of Clif ...
http://sudsandbutterfly.homestead.com/files/Clif_Burdette_1.jpg
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