Charles Mallett has ridden his motorcycle more than 500,000 miles.

He's had several close calls with accidents, which could have ended fatally.

He continues to see the importance of motorcycle safety from both sides.

The De Soto resident is a sergeant in the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and serves as the motorist awareness coordinator for Region E of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, leading safety efforts in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Awareness efforts in Mallett's department center around making drivers more aware of the fact they share the roadways with motorcyclists.

"The people on scenes I've been to feel devastated afterward, and if they would have stopped multi-tasking and paid attention, they wouldn't have a cross to bear for the rest of their lives," he said.

Next month is Motorcycle Awareness Month, when Mallett and others like him across the country pull out all the stops to promote safety and awareness. May 10 is an important day of the campaign, and Illinois motorcyclists from the top of the state to the bottom will run free windshield washing operations at rest areas.

While Mallett's job focuses on promoting safety for other drivers on the road, the Gold Wing Road Riders also promote safety tips for motorcyclists. Riders are encouraged to wear proper attire and gear, such as helmets, long-sleeved shirts or jackets, gloves and over-the-ankle boots.

"We always tell riders to pretend like they're invisible to other riders, because they basically are," he said.

Steve Gottschalk works with the organization on a more localized level, serving as assistant chapter director for Chapter Q, based in Carbondale and serving Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Union, Randolph and Williamson counties. Chapter V2, based in Vienna, serves the remainder of Southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers a class for advanced riders to help increase proficiency of safety and other riding issues, Gottschalk said. Classes require a $10 deposit, which will be refunded upon completion of the course and certification by the state.

While banners will be hung and windshield will be washed next month, that's far from the end of Mallet and Gottschalk's jobs.

"May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, but this is something the motorist awareness division will do all year," Mallett said. "Our job never stops."

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

351-5031

Motorcycles will be on Southern Illinois roadways this weekend for the Blessing of the Bikes, so drivers should exercise precaution when traveling.

the blessing

What: Annual Blessing of the Bikes event

Where: The base of Bald Knob Cross in Alto Pass

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

BY ADAM TESTA