Students campaign for motorcycle safety

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - As summer heats up, more and more motorcyclists are hitting the streets. A group of Purdue students are busy campaigning awareness for these bikes.

Motorcycle Safety At Purdue is a campaign started by students in 2005 after their professor was injured in a motorcycle accident. Now professor Marifran Mattson leads the campaign and teaches a motorcycle safety course at Purdue.

"The main thing is I do just want to raise awareness that motorcycle safety does include everyone. We're all out there sharing the roads together and we need to be aware of one another and we need to drive safely around one another," she said. "We actually designed the sign through a series of research projects and focus groups with community members. And this is the sign that ultimately came out of that. So it is the first of its kind."

Wednesday on campus the campaign unveiled the only motorcycle awareness sign in Indiana. West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis talked about his past motorcycle accidents.

"Education both on the part of the rider as well as the public, is going to make motorcycling in general a much safer hobby, a much safer activity to participate in," Dennis said.

Students started the awareness effort in 2005 after Mattson was injured in a motorcycle accident.

Purdue University President France Cordova made a surprise appearance to drive home the emphasis on safety.