During Memorial Weekend, thousands of bikers head to the Grand Strand for Bike Fest.
Marlon Robinson is a regular attendee and looks forward to the event each year.
For him, safety is crucial. "It's a real problem out there when you don't take motorcycling seriously, because you can get very badly hurt or you can very badly injure someone else."
Being able to go helmet free is part of the attraction for attending South Carolina bike rallies, but Robinson warns against it.
In the last three decades, he's been in two accidents and says he learned some important lessons.
"First thing I learned was dress properly. The second thing I learned 15 years later was pay absolute attention to the ride, don't get distracted." Robinson continued, "When you're out there on open highway, I strongly urge wearing a full face helmet, wearing high top shoes or boots, because motorcycling is a wonderful sport, but the best way to make it wonderful is to take the proper precautions."
With the mixture of more cars on the road because it's a holiday weekend and bikers, accidents are not uncommon. Just last week during the Harley Rally, three bikers died.
State troopers are handing out literature and water bottles to promote the Ride Smart program. "It encourages riders to get more education more training because we did a study and many of our motorcycle wrecks and fatalities were people who had no motorcycle license or very new to motorcycle driving," said Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with the Highway Patrol.
So far the response has been positive. "Some people who have been riding 20 years are picking it up for people in their motorcycle group that are new. New motorcycle riders are coming by and didn't even know some of this education was available," added Collins.
He also asks that motorists keep an eye on their blind spots and for bikers to watch their speed so that everyone can get home safely.
