Nashville, Tennessee --- May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS), the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) and the Motorcycle Awareness Foundation of Tennessee (MAFT) encourage motorcycle riders and drivers to “Share the Road.” These organizations are teaming together to host Motorcycle Awareness Day on May 10, 2008. The event will be held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and will include a free bike show and a Blessing of the Bikes ceremony.

WHO:      TDOS, THP, GHSO, MAFT

WHAT:    Motorcycle Safety Awareness Day

WHEN:    May 10, 2008
               12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
               News Conference, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
               Nashville, TN

There are more than 275,466 motorcycle licenses issued in the state of Tennessee. One out of every nine road fatalities last year in the United States involved motorcycle riders. Motorcycle training classes will be conducted throughout the day Saturday May 10, 2008 at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy located at 3025 Lebanon Road in Nashville, Nashville State Technical Community College and at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.