2025 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum

2025 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum Agenda
May 3, 2025, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Hilton Austin Airport, Austin, Texas

8:00 AM–9:00 AM: Check-in & Networking

9:00 AM–10:00 AM: Opening Session & Keynote Speaker

10:00 AM–10:15 AM: Break and Networking

10:15 AM–11:00 AM: Concurrent Breakout Sessions #1 (Choose 1)

1A: Why Are Motorcycles Invisible?
Cathy Brooks, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Rita, Murphy Lybek, Skilled Motorcyclist Association–Responsible, Trained, and Educated Riders (SMARTER) Inc.

1B: Stop the Bleed Certification Course (Part 1)
Stop the Bleed Instructors, Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council

11:00 AM–11:15 AM: Break and Networking

11:15 AM–Noon: Concurrent Breakout Session #2

2A: Transforming Roads, Unleashing Smart Technologies: Texas TRUST Project
Margaret Fowler, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

2B: Stop the Bleed Certification Course (Part 2)
Stop the Bleed Instructors, Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council

Noon– 1:30 PM: Luncheon

1:30 PM–2:15 PM: Concurrent Breakout Session #3

3A: Filtering, Sharing, and Splitting, Oh My!
Rita, Murphy Lybek, Skilled Motorcyclist Association–Responsible, Trained, and Educated Riders (SMARTER) Inc.

3B: Stop the Bleed Certification Course (Part 1)
Stop the Bleed Instructors, Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council

2:15 PM–2:30 PM: Break & Networking

2:30 PM–3:15 PM: Concurrent Breakout Session #4

4A: Motorcycle Helmet Safety: What You Need to Know
Hong Zhang, Snell Foundation

4B: Stop the Bleed Certification Course (Part 2)
Stop the Bleed Instructors, Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council

3:15 PM–3:30 PM: Break and Networking

3:30 PM–4:15 PM: General Session

First on Scene: What Everyone on the Road Should Know
Penni Fuller, Accident Scene Management

4:15 PM–4:30 PM: Closing Plenary

Program and Presentations

The Forum’s program included a general opening session with a keynote address and an awards presentation. There were two Stop the Bleed courses that ran concurrently with four other sessions, and a final general session.

Opening and Awards
Maurice Maness, the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition and Task Force Chair, welcomed everyone to the Forum and introduced the session speakers.

TxDOT 2025 Look Twice for Motorcycles Digital Toolkit
Nancy Winn, CTCM, Program Manager – Public Participation & Engagement Coordinator, Traffic Safety Division – Behavioral Traffic Section, Texas Department of Transportation, welcomed everyone, shared a little about herself and her riding experience, then provided an overview of the TxDOT 2025 Look Twice for Motorcycles campaign that runs May 1^st through May 15^th.

Texas Legislative Update
Matt Ruszczak, Legislative Director for the Texas House of Representatives, District 31, provided a current status update on all pending legislation related to motorcyclists. He also provided insights into how to get things done in Austin, stating that politics is the art of the possible. Some tips included knowing your representatives, having a Republican champion for proposed legislation, and looking for like (Republican) states when comparing for proposed legislation.

Helmet Safety and Snell Foundation – Keynote
Hong Zhang, Director of Education, Snell Foundation, provided the keynote address. She reviewed Texas and United Sates (US) motorcycle crash trends with a focus on helmet use. She also reviewed US helmet use by helmet type, DOT (Department of Transportation) compliant, noncompliant, and no helmet, and the effectiveness of motorcycle helmet use. She then shared the story of the founding of the Snell Memorial Foundation, now the Snell Foundation, and it’s roll in developing a higher standard for motorcycle helmets, how those standards differ from DOT and ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) standards for impact energy management.

2025 Texas Motorcycle Safety Awards
Maurice Maness presented the 2025 Texas Motorcycle Safety Difference Maker Award to Kelly Howard. Kelly recently retired from motorcycle safety training as a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach and RiderCoach Trainer. Kelly then shared a few words.

The 2025 Texas Motorcycle Safety Champion Award was presented to Bill Veach, who was not in attendance. Maurice then provided logistical information and an overview of the agenda.

Stop the Bleed
As anyone can be the first on the scene of a motorcycle crash, Rhonda Manor-Coombes, a nurse from Baylor Scott & White Health, provided two Stop the Bleed courses. Each 90-minute course was conducted over two sessions. The 16 participants learned how to use compression, wound packing and tourniquets to stop severe bleeding, and earned a certificate of completion.

Why are Motorcycles Invisible?
Cathy Brooks, Project Specialist, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, shared some Texas motorcycle involved crash statistics and trends from 2020 through 2024. Identifying who in the audience were primarily motorcycle riders and who were primarily car or truck drivers (cagers), she shared some of the reasons motorcyclists are invisible to cagers and tips to overcome the challenges. Participants also took the position of a motorcyclist to explore some strategies taught in Motorcycle Safety Foundation motorcycle safety training courses and events to reduce risk when riding, having a safety mindset.

Transforming Roads, Unleashing Smart Technologies: Texas TRUST Project
Margaret Fowler, Assistant Research Scientist, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, highlighted the ongoing efforts in Texas to advance vehicle to everything or connected vehicle technologies (V2X) into the transportation system with the goal of enhancing roadway safety. She shared the differences in connected vehicle technologies and automated vehicle (self-driving) technologies and how these technologies could benefit motorcyclist safety. She reviewed the TRUST project goals, schedule, and test deployment plan. The findings of this federally funded initiative will help inform a national blueprint to support broader adoption and implementation across the country. Other potential benefits to motorcyclists outside the TRUST project and motorcyclist feedback on these technologies from previous research were also discussed. Many questions posed by participants will aid in future research.

Filtering, Sharing, and Splitting, OH MY
Rita Murphy Lybek, Skilled Motorcyclist Association–Responsible, Trained, and Educated Riders (SMARTER) Inc., reviewed the differences between the terms used to describe ways motorcyclists move through traffic. Debunking some of the myths and misconceptions or opinion shared about motorcyclists sharing a lane with other vehicles based on the available research. She explored how the practice is perceived in states where it is legal by both riders and other drivers, and what the data actually says about the safety and efficiencies for all sharing the road. Ultimately, when making a decision about sharing a lane, be factual, be smart, and show empathy and kindness when sharing the road. Some accumulated research can be found at https://smarter-usa.org/research/lane-splitting/

Motorcycle Helmet Safety: What You Need to Know
Hong Zhang, Director of Education, Snell Foundation, delivered an engaging and informative presentation on the critical role of helmet safety in motorcycle rider protection. She shared the history and mission of the Snell Foundation, emphasizing its long-standing commitment to rigorous helmet testing and high safety standards. The presentation highlighted the scientific data supporting the effectiveness of Snell-certified helmets, particularly in reducing the risk of traumatic brain injuries during crashes. Attendees were given an overview of the Foundation’s detailed testing protocols, which go beyond standard industry requirements to ensure maximum rider protection. She also discussed how improper storage or handling can cause unseen internal damage to helmets, potentially compromising their integrity. Anyone interested in learning more about the Snell Foundation or to receive Snell updates once or twice a year may email [email protected] directly.

First on Scene: What Everyone on the Road Should Know
Penni “Gypsy” Fuller, Accident Scene Management, provided an engaging and informative overview of why it is important to know what to do in an emergency, specifically when you are one of the first on the scene of a motorcycle crash. She covered the basics of hands only CPR and the difference in standard rescue breathing and the chin thrust technique to maintain an open airway. After explaining the reasons why one should not remove a helmet from a motorcyclist who has been in a crash, she then covered the reasons why it may be necessary and, with the help of her assistant, demonstrated the proper method to remove the helmet that lessens the likelihood of causing further injury. Everyone on the roadway is potentially the first on the scene of a crash which is why having proper bystander care training is so important for everyone, riders and drivers alike. Anyone interested in learning more or scheduling an Accident Scene Management class may email [email protected] directly.