Safety First: DPS to Host ‘SMARTrainer’ Event at Local Harley Davidson

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Motorcycle Safety Center on Saturday will give people the chance to test their skills on a “SMARTrainer” at the St. Paul Harley Davidson along Interstate 94.

The motorcycle SMARTrainer mimics the standard controls on a real motorcycle and provides a virtual environment to practice riding.

At the end of a ride, a Motorcycle Safety Foundation-certified riding instructor will give feedback and suggestions on which skills to sharpen.

The event is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul Harley Davidson, located at 2899 Hudson Blvd., along the I-94 frontage road.

The DPS is organizing the event as part of an effort to improve safety for motorcyclists.

Preliminary reports for 2013 show 56 riders have lost their lives so far this year, compared with 48 at this time in 2012.

There were 55 total death’s last year, the deadliest since 2008.

“Preliminary reports this year point to common factors in motorcycle crashes that proper training and sharp skills help prevent,” reads part of a release. “That’s why it is important for riders to test their skills and get trained.”

Visit motorcyclesafety.org to find training courses.