‘GMAT’ Statewide Safety Campaign April 25th - 30th
6-DAY SAFETY RIDE & MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS TOUR
Coming To: Carrollton, Columbus, Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, Augusta and Atlanta
(GEORGIA) During the last week of April, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) and local motorcycle enthusiasts will kickoff the first ever Georgia Motorcycle Awareness Tour (GMAT). It’s a six-day ride through Georgia to promote motorcycle safety. From Saturday, April 25th through Thursday, April 30th, GOHS Director Bob Dallas and riders from across the state will be “Taking It To The Street” to spread the Share the Road message to motorists and raise awareness about motorcycle safety in areas facing high crash rates, deaths, and injuries.
*PHOTO-OPPORTUNITIES/MEDIA WELCOME*
WHO: Highway safety advocates and motorcycle devotees from across the state will join law enforcement riders in Carroll County, Columbus, Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, Augusta, Atlanta and many communities along the route.
WHAT: Seven (7) separate news conferences along the 6-day GEORGIA MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS TOUR.
WHEN: Kick-off Saturday, April 25th through Thursday, April 30th
WHERE: The Ride runs Saturday 11AM from the Turner Field Blue Lot, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315. The April 25th kickoff will coincide with the 18th Annual Police Memorial Ride with the Blue Knights GA VII and continues on the following schedule:
· Day 2: GMAT News Conference 11AM, Sunday, April 26th in Carroll County
· Day 3: GMAT News Conference 9:30AM, Monday, April 27th in Columbus, GA
· Day 3: GMAT News Conference 2PM, Monday, April 27th in Albany, GA
· Day 4: GMAT News Conference 9AM, Tuesday, April 28th in Valdosta, GA
· Day 4: GMAT News Conference 5PM, Tuesday, April 28th in Savannah, GA
· Day 5: GMAT News Conference 2PM, Wednesday, April 29th in Augusta, GA
· Day 6: FINAL Share The Road News Conference 10:30 AM, Thursday, April 30th in Atlanta, GA
Turner Field Gold Lot, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315
**FIND EXACT ROUTES AND SCHEDULES AT www.gahighwaysafety.org/2009motorcycletour
HIGHWAY SAFETY DIRECTOR JOINS FELLOW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS...
“As this year’s riding season begins, the Georgia Motorcycle Awareness Tour is taking off to promote safe riding and remind both riders and motorists to keep an eye out for each other” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “This week-long campaign will give motorcycle enthusiasts a chance to demonstrate how popular recreational riding has become in Georgia, combined with that serious reminder of how vulnerable these riders are on our highways.” GOHS Director Bob Dallas and other motorcycle and highway safety partners will be available for interviews.
The GMAT ride also reminds us that motorcycle ownership is on the rise in Georgia and across the nation. As of September 2007, ownership of these road-worthy, two-wheeled vehicles rose to 194,563. This represents a 22% increase over the previous year. Properly licensed riders are welcome to come Share the Road wherever they can on the GMAT route and GOHS encourages local news media to document this safety conscious pick-up ride as additional riders join the tour at each stop.
(END RELEASE)
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Public Information Unit
Public Affairs Director, Jim Shuler – 404-656-6996 –
34 Peachtree Street—Suite 1600—One Park Tower—Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org
Sonny Perdue, Governor Robert F. Dallas, Director