Frankie Ballard Teams with Allstate To Promote Motorcycle Safety

Frankie Ballard has entered into a new partnership with Allstate Insurance. Don’t worry, though. He’s not giving up his rapidly advancing music career to sell insurance. But, he is working with the company as a part of their “Guardians of the Ride” initiative.

Launched in May of this year, the program recognizes safety advocates who have dedicated their lives to improving motorcycle safety through the education of riders and drivers alike. The Warner Brothers recording artist says it’s a cause that is near and dear to his heart.

“I’ve been riding for most of my adult life. I want to stay safe so I can continue to do so for the rest of my adult life. I think that motorcycle safety is so important for every rider. This year, they are honoring five people who are local heroes in their community, folks who have made their communities and their rides more safety. They’ve been honored on a local level, but now, they will also be honored at the world’s largest motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD, we’re going to honor them again. Hopefully, it will cause other people to make people aware about motorcycle safety – and get them to think about it.”

He says there are just some aspects of sharing the road with cyclists that the average driver just doesn’t think about. “I don’t think people realize they are as vulnerable as they really are. I think the riders know there’s potentially only some leather between them and the pavement if something goes wrong on the road. I don’t think a lot of drivers look out for motorcycle drivers as much as they should. Hopefully, we can make people aware of how much is at risk, and maybe that will help them stay safe,” he said.

According to Ballard, education is the key – and his home state seems to be leading away, as one of the winners of the program hails from there, and has made a definite difference. “One of the Guardians from Michigan is a young lady who had a son whose friend was killed on a motorcycle. She did all the leg work, and got legislation passed where you have to pass a certain amount of motorcycle safety tests before you can get your drivers’ license. It’s things like that which Allstate is recognizing, and that we’re trying to celebrate. Even drivers who never intend on riding a motorcycle, they have to be aware of some of the basics in safety. I think that’s a really cool thing.”

What is it about being on his Triumph Bonneville bike that appeals to him? He says it is total escapism. “I think it comes down to the freedom of it. It feels so much more like an event when you’re out there in the wind than a car. I also enjoy how much focus it requires. You get on a bike, and it has to be 150 percent into what you’re doing. You can’t think about your career or relationships. It’s a pure escape for me. I think the freedom of the open road and the escape are big things that riders really seem to love.”

One thing that the singer is loving right now is the response to his third studio album, El Rio, which was released in June. He admits that every artist craves acceptance for their music, and he’s no different. “I know that it’s a cliché. But, that’s the dream. You go out and you make this music, and you’ve got these things on your heart that you’ve got to get out and say. Then, you wonder what people are going to think of it, because it’s their turn. My contribution to that album has been made. We’re playing it live now, but it’s now up to the people to consume and enjoy and decided whether they like it or not. So, when you hear that people are liking it, and start to get a lot of positive feedback, you just want to say ‘Thank God.” I’m happy about that. We’re having a big time playing it live.”

The second single from the album, “Cigarette,” has just hit radio. Ballard hopes that fans will be receptive of the song. “I think it’s a great example of what the new sound is. We went down to the border, and that was a big reason for the trip was to try to continue to chase what the new sound was going to be. That’s the perfect example of what we were trying to do sonically. A big part of that journey is trying to find that sound, so I’m glad we’ve got that out.”

Something else that Ballad will be watching closely will be the progress – he hopes – of the 2016 Detroit Lions, who won their preseason opener over the Steelers this past weekend. He admits that being a fan of the NFC North team can be too much to bear sometimes. “It’s so tough being a Lions fan, because we are so long suffering. My heart is very hard. I’m going to be a casual observer, but I’m not going to get my hopes up, by any means.”

The 76th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally wrapped up on Sunday, August 14.