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H8566
2026 -- H 8566
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LC003182
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY OF 2026 TO BE "MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Nardone, Solomon, Edwards, Shanley, Craven, and Caldwell
Date Introduced:
May 19, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association was started in 1974 in West
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Warwick, as a nonprofit motorcycle rights organization to protect the freedoms of riders in Rhode
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Island through safety, education and legislation; and
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association has worked closely with
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Governors, legislators and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to advance the
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freedom of choice and the safety of motorcycle riders in Rhode Island with fair and equitable
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solutions; and
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WHEREAS, The theme for "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" is "Share the Road:
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It's Everyone's Responsibility." This theme emphasizes that everyone, including drivers and
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motorcyclists, has an important role to play in ensuring safe roads. The goal is to educate riders
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on the importance of safe riding practices, defensive riding techniques and the need to wear
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protective gear. The theme also urges all riders to obey traffic laws, to maintain their motorcycles
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properly, to take motorcycle safety courses, to wear bright clothing and use lights to stay visible
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to other motorists, to use defensive riding techniques, and urges drivers to give motorcycles
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ample space; and
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WHEREAS, Motorcycle riding is an economical and popular form of transportation
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enjoyed by about eight percent (8%) of the American people. It provides a more efficient mode of
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transportation than cars or trucks, uses up fewer resources, causes less wear and tear on our roads
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and highways, and increases available parking spaces; and
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WHEREAS, Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence, with
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estimates suggesting that such fatal incidents occur approximately once every twelve minutes in
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America and account for more than fifteen percent (15%) of all traffic fatalities, despite the fact
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that only three percent (3%) of all registered vehicles are motorcycles; and
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WHEREAS, Because motorcycles don’t have seat belts or airbags, and they are much
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smaller than cars, motorcyclists are twenty-two times more likely to die in a crash than those
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driving cars; and
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WHEREAS, As of January 2023, the total number of public, personal, and commercial
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motorcycles registered in the United States and the District of Columbia totaled approximately
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8.8 million, with 28,376 registered in Rhode Island as of February 2024; and
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WHEREAS, Data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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(NHTSA) states that in 2023, 6,335 motorcyclists died in traffic accidents in the United States,
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which is approximately seventeen motorcyclists killed per day; and
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WHEREAS, Distracted driving poses one of the biggest dangers to other motorists,
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especially motorcyclists. Distractions can be any activity that takes a driver's focus off the task of
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driving, including eating and drinking, talking or texting on the phone, and numerous other
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distractions, all of which pose serious dangers to the motorcycle driving public; and
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WHEREAS, While there are no prescribed means to prevent motorcycle wrecks, greater
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awareness of motorist safety and potential existing risks can arm riders with the knowledge they
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need to help mitigate dangerous situations while on the road; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims May of 2026, to be "Motorcycle Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island, and
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urges all motorists to avoid distracted driving; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association.
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LC003182
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