Studies covering the last five years have shown that alcohol has been a factor in Colorado's increase in motorcycle fatalities. A total of 402 motorcycle riders and their passengers have been killed in crashes on Colorado roads the last five years. This has prompted Colorado highway safety officials to begin a campaign this past Wednesday to promote voluntary motorcycle rider-training classes and motorcycle helmet use.

 
Motorcycle fatalities in the state have increased from 45 in 1995 to a record 90 last year, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Alcohol was a factor in 35 percent of the fatal crashes, and 80 percent of riders were not wearing motorcycle helmets, or the riders were using them improperly, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.

 
The CDOT has begun the volunatary motorcycle rider-training program in an efford to raise riders wareness that the sport of riding motorcycles and drinking do not mix. If you booze, you lose when it comes to riding a motorcycle, especially if you are not a seasoned rider and do not wear a helmet. Come on people, don't drink and ride! It hurts the sport we all enjoy so much and if you want mandatory motorcycle training and helmet laws drinking, riding, crashing, dying is the fastest way to bring these laws on.