Holder Family Promotes Motorcycle Safety at Ride to Work Day
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: June 19, 2012
"The big problem is that people don't see motorcycles. And you know it's just a fact that we're harder to see than a car," says Dean Carter, MPO technician. "So we have a bunch of them going through town, it's just going to raise awareness that there are more and more of us out there."
"I was hit. A young man was texting and not paying attention, rear-ended me on my motorcycle and knocked me off my bike and broke six ribs," recalls City Marshal Michael Brantley.
Michael Brantley knows the importance of motorcycle safety, and so does Anne-Marie Holder, whose husband Rodney died in the line of duty on a motorcycle in 2010.
"We want all drivers to drive carefully. To control their speed, but to look twice for motorcycles. Because they're profile is smaller, they're harder to see. But they are on the road," said Anne-Marie.
Anne-Marie said she wants to use Rodney's memory to help bring more safety awareness to the community with rides like the one today.
"If remembering him can make people more aware of their driving and to just use that extra little bit of caution, then that is something good that comes from this," she said. "It's very important to us that good things come from this."
She's spreading awareness herself by handing out cards with Rodney's story on them to different groups of riders that she sees around town.
"I just want to make them aware of how important it is that they do everything that they can to drive safely on the roads," said Anne-Marie. "That they're not speeding, that they're wearing their helmets."
Anne-Marie also uses Rodney's story to explain the importance of personal safety.
"I tell them, you know Rodney had lights and sirens going and they did not see, the driver did not see him. So they've got to be aware that the odds are going to be not in their favor for drivers to see them. So they've got to do their part to make sure that they go home to their families safely every day."
"I was hit. A young man was texting and not paying attention, rear-ended me on my motorcycle and knocked me off my bike and broke six ribs," recalls City Marshal Michael Brantley.
Michael Brantley knows the importance of motorcycle safety, and so does Anne-Marie Holder, whose husband Rodney died in the line of duty on a motorcycle in 2010.
"We want all drivers to drive carefully. To control their speed, but to look twice for motorcycles. Because they're profile is smaller, they're harder to see. But they are on the road," said Anne-Marie.
Anne-Marie said she wants to use Rodney's memory to help bring more safety awareness to the community with rides like the one today.
"If remembering him can make people more aware of their driving and to just use that extra little bit of caution, then that is something good that comes from this," she said. "It's very important to us that good things come from this."
She's spreading awareness herself by handing out cards with Rodney's story on them to different groups of riders that she sees around town.
"I just want to make them aware of how important it is that they do everything that they can to drive safely on the roads," said Anne-Marie. "That they're not speeding, that they're wearing their helmets."
Anne-Marie also uses Rodney's story to explain the importance of personal safety.
"I tell them, you know Rodney had lights and sirens going and they did not see, the driver did not see him. So they've got to be aware that the odds are going to be not in their favor for drivers to see them. So they've got to do their part to make sure that they go home to their families safely every day."
