KENTUCKY (WFIE) -
Kentucky State Police say there's been a dramatic increase in motorcycle accidents, more than 50% more than at this time last year.
A new program is coming to the commonwealth to speed up medical attention to the crash scene.
Frank Davisson is the owner of Bluegrass Cycles and says this year, he's been able to ride his bike more often.
"People road all winter. Even January and February, it was good weather to ride," Davisson noted.
Kentucky State Trooper Stu Recke says he believes this nice weather has something to do with the increase in crashes, because more riders are on the road.
"The weather's been great and so more people like to get out in the open and take to the road on their motorcycles, and the crashes have increased and with crashes increasing the fatalities have also gone up," Recke said.
In response to the increase, last week at the KSP Motorcycle Safety Day Event in Frankfort, PHI Air Medical announced the Rider Alert Program is coming to Kentucky.
"Basically it's a sticker that goes on a motorcyclists helmet and it provides critical information to the first responders, that way if the person is incapacitated, they can look at that sticker and get some information they need in order to treat that person properly," Recke explained.
There's been over 800 crashes and 33 fatalities on the road in Kentucky this year. Davisson says he likes the idea of an alert card that provides medical history and emergency contacts, but adds bikers can't let their guard down on the road.
"You just have to assume that every car you meet is going to turn in front of you," Davisson told 14 News.
There may be one obstacle in the way of this program: helmets. Davisson says he always wears one when he rides, but Kentucky State Law doesn't require one.
To learn more about how to get your Rider Alert card, click here.
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