- February 27, 2025
As thousands of motorcycle riders arrive in Daytona Beach for Bike Week 2025, Halifax Health, the Florida Department of Transportation and RideSMART have teamed up to stress the importance of road safety.
At a press event held Thursday, Feb. 27, at Halifax Health, officials and advocates emphasized the importance of proactive safety measures to prevent motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities, according to a press release.
“Halifax Health plays a critical role during Bike Week — not just as the region’s trauma center, but as a partner in promoting rider safety and injury prevention,” said Lindsay Duffy, registered nurse and director of nursing at Halifax Health. “We’re seeing progress, but every injury prevented is a life saved.”
Bike Week begins on Friday, Feb. 28, and runs through Sunday, March 9.
In 2024, 92 motorcycle crashes were reported during Bike Week, leading to 180 trauma patients and five fatalities. The hospital attributes efforts to raise awareness and promotion of safe riding to the reduction in trauma admissions from 122 in 2023 to 100 in 2024.
RideSMART, a coalition dedicated to motorcycle safety, has also launched the Ride SMART 2 Daytona campaign. This year, the campaign will feature digital highway messaging, outreach events and interactive challenges like the RideSMART Challenge, a quiz testing riders on Florida motorcycle safety laws.
“Riding smart means having fun while prioritizing safety,” said Edith Peters, RideSMART representative. “Our five core principles — Stay Sober, Make Yourself Visible, Always Wear a Helmet, Ride in Control, and Train & Get Endorsed — are proven to reduce risk and save lives.”
FDOT is ensuring road conditions are optimal, suspending construction in key areas, and using data-driven strategies to prevent crashes and improve rider awareness, the press release states.
FDOT’s Target Zero initiative aims to eliminate traffic-related deaths by encouraging responsible riding and driving behavior. The department is also collaborating with Daytona Tortugas Baseball to display motorcycle safety banners and reinforcing the Look Twice, Save a Life campaign through digital highway signage.
The Daytona Beach Police Department will be actively monitoring high-traffic areas, educating riders on licensing requirements and working to prevent impaired riding.
