ROAD TO ZERO

Utah Motorcyclist Uses Her Accident Experience to Start Rider Safety Group

Jul 18, 2018, 10:36 PM

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – There was no way to avoid colliding with the car in front of her. Elvecia Ramos says on July 10, 2016, while riding her motorcycle, she and her friend collided with a car turning left in front of them.

“I just thought, ‘Oh my God, oh no.’ I just could believe it,” Ramos said. “It was a distracted driver, and he was making a left turn and he just didn’t see us.”

The crash sent both riders to the hospital for a three-week stay.

“I had a broken right ankle, fractured left ankle and torn ligaments,” Ramos said.

It was during her time in the hospital she went searching for a motorcyclist injury support group.

“I just needed to talk to someone else who had been through this, but my doctor said there wasn’t a support group like that,” she said.

Ramos decided to create a group of her own, calling it the Riderz Foundation. She said it started as a support group, but quickly grew into a safety education organization.

“In less than 24 hours of when we started the group, we had over 200 people that signed up for our first meeting,” she said.

Wednesday night, the organization hosted experts, including those from the Department of Public Safety, and other agencies to educate riders on the best ways to maneuver Utah’s roadways.

Attendees said the session highlighted what they should to stay safe.

“I learned the ‘what if’ scenario. What if this car pulls out, where am I going to go? Where is my escape route?,” said motorcyclist Annette Ault.

Ramos said it is thinking like that, that will keep riders alive, especially during a deadly summer like this one.

“Last year we had about 14 fatalities during this time, right now we have 27. So it’s not looking good,” she said.

Her hope with classes like these is to get all motorists on the same page.

“Let’s just try to help each other out to stay safer on the roads,” she said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Road to Zero

A truck hauling construction materials fishtails out of control on I-15 Wednesday. (Kyllie Smith-Fr...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Dash cam shows close call with unsecured trailer on I-15; UHP says driver left behind mess

An extremely close call with an unsecured trailer was captured on a driver's dash camera that made for some heart-stopping moments on I-15 this week.

6 days ago

A Weber County family is mourning the loss of a 28-year-old man killed in a wrong way crash early S...

Garna Mejia

Family grieves the loss of a man killed in Sunday’s wrong-way crash

A Weber County family is mourning the loss of a 28-year-old man killed in a wrong-way crash early Sunday morning.

10 days ago

A Kaysville police officer stopped a wrong-way driver on I-15. (Tanner Siegworth, KSL TV)...

Josh Ellis and Emma Benson, KSL TV

Kaysville police officer stops wrong-way driver on I-15

A Kaysville police officer crashed head-on into a car to stop a wrong-way driver on Interstate 15 early Friday morning.

2 months ago

Interstate traffic...

Katija Stjepovic

New campaign underway to prevent road rage in Utah

The Utah Department of Transportation and Department of  Public Safety launched a new campaign Tuesday addressing Utah's road rage problem.

3 months ago

(FILE) A Lyft driver waiting for their passenger. (KSL TV)...

Emma Benson

Officials remind you to celebrate responsibly this New Year’s Eve

The countdown to 2024 is on, and law enforcement is reminding Utahns to celebrate responsibly this weekend.

3 months ago

Graeson Coughenour, a University of Utah student who survived the wrong-way crash in Parleys Canyon...

Andrew Adams

‘Everything happened so fast:’ Survivor of Parleys Canyon wrong-way crash urges caution

One of the drivers injured in a deadly Wednesday night wrong-way crash in Parleys Canyon urged others to be ready for whatever is just down the road.

3 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Utah Motorcyclist Uses Her Accident Experience to Start Rider Safety Group