States promote safety during Sturgis motorcycle rally

Intermountain states are gearing up for the annual migration of motorcyclists to Sturgis, South Dakota and the 78th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is partnering with WYDOT, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety to raise awareness in a campaign called Safe 2 Sturgis.

Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman Sergeant Kyle McKay said the goal is to bring awareness to motorcycle safety. The campaign began Friday and will continue through around August 17.

In 2017 there were 235 motorcycle crashes reported in Wyoming. Seventeen of those crashes were fatal. Wyoming averages 3 motorcycle fatalities per year during the period of the Sturgis rally.

According to the Office of Highway Safety, in Idaho last year, there were 407 injury accidents involving motorcycles and 25 fatalities.