DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bike Week 2017 began Friday in Daytona Beach, and there have already been several motorcycle crashes, with some causing fatalities.
The most recent fatal crash happened Sunday morning in the 1900 block of West International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach. Police said a woman crashed her motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Florida is the No. 1 state for motorcycle crash deaths, according to AAA. Fatal motorcycle crashes have increased 30 percent since 2014-2015.
Rafael Vega, the Riding Academy manager for Orlando Harley Davidson, said he’s seen it all.
"When you're out there seeing crashes, you're seeing a lot of people who are complacent,” Vega said. “They're in a rush to compete with everyone else. You have an influx of novice as well as experienced riders.”
Vega said part of the problem in these crashes is that people aren’t giving themselves enough time or allowing enough space between people when making these mistakes.
He also credits helmets as one of the reasons people survive motorcycle crashes, and with bike week in its third day, he said it's important to dress for safety.
“It's better to have something, better than nothing. It doesn't take much to crack the skull or have a severe trauma injury from impact to the ground," Vega said.
He also said it’s important to wear protective eye gear.
But Vega said it’s not just about dressing smart -- you also need to ride smart.
Vega said Orlando Harley Davidson offers technique refresher courses for local and seasonal riders who might not get to ride as often.
“They only ride during season,” Vega said. “You know, three or four months, then they come here where we ride all year-round. And they kind of forget and get a little complacent about their time and space."
It’s a two-day course that teaches riders things that could someday save their lives.
Vega also reminds riders to think about their family before they ride, adding that they are the ones affected most when a motorcyclist makes a mistake.
To learn more about the riding course and Bike Week events, visit Orlando Harley Davidson.