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Mission Statement
Our goal and main objective are to go out to the Motorcycling Community to provide FREE informational education about the risks associated with motorcycling along with steps to minimize those risks through increased awareness, insightful learning and proper education. Too many motorcyclists are not even aware that they are unaware of the problems and hazards in everyday riding that could easily be avoided. Understanding the need to become a more proficient rider will not only reduce our chances of an unwanted conflict, but will overall help the motorcycling community to become a safer sport for all to enjoy. Our program also works towards promoting information to the Driving Public to become more aware of the needs and safety of motorcyclist's.
Who We Are
Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program (ESMSEP) is a Not for Profit 501(c)3 grassroots outreach education organization established in 2014 by a group of likeminded motorcycle safety enthusiasts working towards the goal of Promoting Motorcycle Awareness and the Benefits of Rider Education.
We do this through informational seminars at libraries, adult continuing education programs, dealerships, club/group meetings, rallies, etc. for FREE. Our primary goal is to present the information to licensed motorcycle operators as to the importance of continuing rider education, but our information can also be extremely useful for newer riders as well. ESMSEP’s main emphasis is the development of increased situational awareness. While we constantly encourage motorcyclists to attend an educational skills riding program, we have found the presentation of situational awareness information and possible steps to avoid a conflict/crash is extremely needed for the riding community. We try to inspire those that “know how to ride” to actually learn how to ride. To date, there is no one in New York State that presently addresses what we do and from information compiled; may be the only rider education program in the country that does FREE education on a regularly scheduled basis. We are heading into our fourth year of operation and to date have received tons of support and positive feedback from those that have attended our informational seminars for the motorcycling community. Our primary location for these presentations includes Long Island, Metro New York City and the Mid to Lower Hudson Valley; but have also travel to northern New Jersey and West Connecticut for events.
Why Is Education So Important?
There are no guarantees that additional education can prevent a crash, but there are an abundance of studies, statistics, percentage numbers, etc that show a high amount of motorcyclists involved in crashes never had any formal rider training. In New York State (NYS), less than 1% of the motorcycle endorsed licensed operators attend a riding program of any kind each year. That should be alarming for the riding community. Even more alarming is that even though numbers that involve motorcycle crashes fluctuate yearly some percentages haven’t change in decades. Nearly 50% of the reported motorcycle accidents in NYS are single vehicle motorcycles crashes. That indicates that the motorcyclist was at fault for various reasons that may have been due to something they did or did not do. Keep in mind again nearly HALF of all reported crashes do not involve another vehicle.
The remaining 50% of the crashes typically involved another vehicle. Reports from accident scene investigations indicate that even though the situation that developed was initiated by "others", the final outcome of nearly half of those crashes were the result of the motorcyclist again. This was due to his or her actions or inaction's. So now, when one steps back and realizes that up to 75% or possibly more of the motorcycle crashes reported were either fully or partially the fault of the motorcyclist; we need to start re-evaluating our mindset and approach to education. Granted we need to always watch out for the "other guy", but the numbers clearly point toward the fact that we really need to watch out for ourselves. We are responsible for our own safety.
This information is not what motorcyclists want to hear, but motorcycling is not a sport where ignorance is bliss to the point where we are not aware that we are unaware. The lack of knowledge or understanding in our sport can be painful and even fatal, but we can take the needed actions to help reduce the risks of motorcycling by advancing ourselves through rider education to become a more proficient motorcyclist. Our objective is to present information to the riding and driving public free of cost to Promote Motorcycle Awareness and the Benefits of Rider Education for Safer Roadways
Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program (ESMSEP) is a Not for Profit 501(c)3 grassroots outreach education organization established in 2014 by a group of likeminded motorcycle safety enthusiasts working towards the goal of Promoting Motorcycle Awareness and the Benefits of Rider Education.
We do this through informational seminars at libraries, adult continuing education programs, dealerships, club/group meetings, rallies, etc. for FREE. Our primary goal is to present the information to licensed motorcycle operators as to the importance of continuing rider education, but our information can also be extremely useful for newer riders as well. ESMSEP’s main emphasis is the development of increased situational awareness. While we constantly encourage motorcyclists to attend an educational skills riding program, we have found the presentation of situational awareness information and possible steps to avoid a conflict/crash is extremely needed for the riding community. We try to inspire those that “know how to ride” to actually learn how to ride. To date, there is no one in New York State that presently addresses what we do and from information compiled; may be the only rider education program in the country that does FREE education on a regularly scheduled basis. We are heading into our fourth year of operation and to date have received tons of support and positive feedback from those that have attended our informational seminars for the motorcycling community. Our primary location for these presentations includes Long Island, Metro New York City and the Mid to Lower Hudson Valley; but have also travel to northern New Jersey and West Connecticut for events.
Why Is Education So Important?
There are no guarantees that additional education can prevent a crash, but there are an abundance of studies, statistics, percentage numbers, etc that show a high amount of motorcyclists involved in crashes never had any formal rider training. In New York State (NYS), less than 1% of the motorcycle endorsed licensed operators attend a riding program of any kind each year. That should be alarming for the riding community. Even more alarming is that even though numbers that involve motorcycle crashes fluctuate yearly some percentages haven’t change in decades. Nearly 50% of the reported motorcycle accidents in NYS are single vehicle motorcycles crashes. That indicates that the motorcyclist was at fault for various reasons that may have been due to something they did or did not do. Keep in mind again nearly HALF of all reported crashes do not involve another vehicle.
The remaining 50% of the crashes typically involved another vehicle. Reports from accident scene investigations indicate that even though the situation that developed was initiated by "others", the final outcome of nearly half of those crashes were the result of the motorcyclist again. This was due to his or her actions or inaction's. So now, when one steps back and realizes that up to 75% or possibly more of the motorcycle crashes reported were either fully or partially the fault of the motorcyclist; we need to start re-evaluating our mindset and approach to education. Granted we need to always watch out for the "other guy", but the numbers clearly point toward the fact that we really need to watch out for ourselves. We are responsible for our own safety.
This information is not what motorcyclists want to hear, but motorcycling is not a sport where ignorance is bliss to the point where we are not aware that we are unaware. The lack of knowledge or understanding in our sport can be painful and even fatal, but we can take the needed actions to help reduce the risks of motorcycling by advancing ourselves through rider education to become a more proficient motorcyclist. Our objective is to present information to the riding and driving public free of cost to Promote Motorcycle Awareness and the Benefits of Rider Education for Safer Roadways
Presentation Materials Supplied By;
Founder - President; Don Gomo
Don has been a motorcycle rider & enthusiast for over 45 years. He got involved with motorcycle safety in 1999 and became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) RiderCoach with the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program in 2004.
In 2006 he joined the staff of American Iron Magazine as their Safety/Skills columnist and continues to write articles on motorcycle safety and skills. He was also part of a short lived online magazine lead by Fred Rau and a team of respected moto-journalists. Don has also written for various other publications over the years.
Through his own experiences and those gained through educating, Don believes (as well as many others in the rider education industry) that a very high percentage of motorcycle crashes/incidents could be avoided by the riding public with increased awareness development, skills improvement and continuing education. This was his driving (riding) force behind the development of Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program. With the promotion of FREE rider education to the motorcycling community, the goal of Empire State Motorcycle safety Education Program is help make motorcycling safer for the motorcyclists in our region and hopefully reduce the dreaded statistics we read about every year.
Don has been a motorcycle rider & enthusiast for over 45 years. He got involved with motorcycle safety in 1999 and became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) RiderCoach with the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program in 2004.
In 2006 he joined the staff of American Iron Magazine as their Safety/Skills columnist and continues to write articles on motorcycle safety and skills. He was also part of a short lived online magazine lead by Fred Rau and a team of respected moto-journalists. Don has also written for various other publications over the years.
Through his own experiences and those gained through educating, Don believes (as well as many others in the rider education industry) that a very high percentage of motorcycle crashes/incidents could be avoided by the riding public with increased awareness development, skills improvement and continuing education. This was his driving (riding) force behind the development of Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program. With the promotion of FREE rider education to the motorcycling community, the goal of Empire State Motorcycle safety Education Program is help make motorcycling safer for the motorcyclists in our region and hopefully reduce the dreaded statistics we read about every year.
Please note that the information and programs presented by Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program, Inc should not be considered as an alternative or in lieu of proper motorcycle rider education. Although we plan to offer riders information to become better educated on the skills required to become a proficient rider, our goal is to encourage members and attendees to participate in a rider education class/course/program to learn and achieve the proper riding skills.
Empire State Motorcycle Safety Education Program, Inc is a U.S. Veteran operated organization
