NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State officials are promoting motorcycle safety awareness month as motorcycle fatalities rise in Tennessee.
Thirty-eight motorcyclists have died in state crashes this year, up 31 percent from 2011.
Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Deanna Lambert says the unseasonably warm weather may be partially to blame for the increase.
“A lot of people are taking advantage of the nice weather, getting out there and riding their motorcycles, or just kind of getting out for a weekend drive. So I really think there’s just more people on the road and you really kind of have to take that into consideration and use caution. We haven’t even gotten into the summer months yet.”
Lambert notes that motorcyclists and their passengers are required by Tennessee law to wear helmets.