Drivers urged to be safe as Sturgis rally nears

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STURGIS (AP) — The South Dakota Highway Patrol and Highway Safety officials are reminding motorists and bikers to drive safely ahead of next week's annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Lee Axdahl with the State Office of Highway Safety says there have been 11 fatalities involving motorcycles so far this year. South Dakota saw 14 motorcycle fatalities in 2011. Statistics show that 30 to 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities occur in West River counties during the period around the annual rally.

Axdahl is urging both motorcyclists and motorists to be especially cautious during the rally, which runs Monday through Aug. 12.

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