Patrol talks about biker safety following the rallies
The bike rallies are over along the Grand Strand. Hundreds of thousands of bikers cruised the area for more than two weeks. Four bikers died during the rallies. The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports there were three fatalities during the Spring Harley Rally, and one biker died during the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Fest.I spoke with Lance Corporal Sonny Collins about why the bikes rallies proved less deadly this year. Collins told me, he believes it's the combination of more trooper presence on major routes and education through the media. Collins says the patrol also sponsored safety booths at both rallies. They were at Hard Rock Park during the Spring Harley Rally, and Red Line Powersports for the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Fest. Collins says biker response was positive. They picked up safety materials, and troopers handed out those popular rubber wrist bands that featured a safety message. They also handed out biker posters, which also addressed safety.
Collins says the next step is for troopers to meet, do an "after-action" report, and decide what the patrol can do better or different next year all in the name of keeping people safe.
As for the patrol's perspective on biker rally attendance. Collins told me he felt there were fewer bikers during the Spring Harley Rally, while the Atlantic Beach Bike Memorial Day Bike Fest seemed to be the same as years past. However, Collins says since others tourists are in the area for Memorial Day weekend that could be why it appears there were higher numbers for this rally.
Posted by on 05/27 at 11:18 AM
Got to give the boys of the SCHP a big thumbs up. They do an outstanding job. I didn’t go down Memorial weekend. A friend did and called the atmosphere “zoo like”. Definitely not appropriate for younger viewers.