Traffic safety

COMMENTARY
South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Jordan Melius stops a motorcyclist during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Courtesy of South Dakota Highway Patrol)

Without a motorcycle helmet law for adults, we all pay

BY: - August 28, 2023

There’s a legend in journalism circles about a metropolitan daily newspaper that published a weak editorial page that was squeamish about taking a stand on anything. The paper was so consistently wishy-washy that the editorial writers had their keyboards fixed so that if they hit control-T, their computers automatically typed: “This bears watching.” This time […]

South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Jordan Melius stops a motorcyclist during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Courtesy of South Dakota Highway Patrol)

At least 11 die in motorcycle accidents before and during Sturgis rally

BY: - August 14, 2023

Three more people died in motorcycle crashes over the weekend as the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ended, bringing the total number of traffic deaths officially and unofficially connected with this year’s rally to at least 11. The rally began Aug. 4 and ended Sunday. Traffic counters recorded roughly 458,000 vehicles in Sturgis, which was down […]

South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Jordan Melius stops motorcyclists during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Courtesy of South Dakota Highway Patrol)

Another death raises motorcycle rally’s fatality count

BY: - August 10, 2023

There has been another traffic fatality associated with this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.   The latest death happened Thursday when a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 and hit a 2008 GMC Yukon head-on, according to the Highway Patrol. The 61-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was wearing […]