MANSFIELD, Ohio — Warm weather means motorcycles are back on the roads and May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Richland County Safe Communities and Richland Public Health are reminding the public to “Look For Motorcycles” to increase safe sharing of the road.
To bring more awareness to the return of motorcycles on the road, Richland County Safe Communities Coalition is joining with Boomer’s Powersports (539 Park Avenue East, Mansfield) on May 2 for a “Blessing of the Bikes,” First Ride and cookout. The event starts at 10 a.m. and the ride begins at 11 a.m. Safe Communities and Richland Public Health will be there with information and sponsored giveaways and there will be live entertainment. Boomer’s is asking all participants to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Friendly House. (Rain date: May 9).
Motorcycles are small so drivers need to be very alert:
Respect Motorcycle Rights – A motorcycle is a vehicle with the same rights as any other motor vehicle. Always give a motorcycle the full lane to ride in: never share a lane.
Check your mirrors before turning or changing lanes. Because of their size, motorcycles may be harder to see.
Signal your intent to change lanes.
Watch your turns – Many motorcycle crashes are caused by a driver turning in front of a motorcycle. Left turns can be dangerous because drivers misjudge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle. When in doubt, wait it out.
Give them room. Drive at least 4 to 5 seconds behind to avoid tailgating.
Remember … they’re your neighbors. Motorcyclists come from all walks of life. Your neighbor, co-worker or a friend may ride a motorcycle.
Here are what the statistics say about motorcycle injuries and fatalities:
Two thirds of fatal motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. In those crashes more than 50 percent of the time the non-motorcycle operator is at fault.
Nationwide, motorcycle fatalities dropped slightly in 2013 to 4,668 riders and passengers, down by 300 fatalities over the year before. Part of the decrease in fatalities was attributed to cool, wet start to the year that kept many motorcyclists off the road. 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in crashes in 2013.
There were 133 motorcycle fatalities in Ohio and 3,191 injuries in 2013. Unfortunately, of those fatalities, 62.4 percent of were not wearing helmets. In 71 percent of motorcycle fatalities nationwide the riders were not wearing helmets.
The highest fatality rate for riders was the age group of 46-55 years old, accounting for 22.6 percent of the fatalities. The 16-25 age group was second at 18.8 percent of the fatalities.
There were four motorcycle fatalities in Richland County last year and in three of those four fatalities, the driver who struck the motorcyclist was at fault. Richland County has had 13 motorcycle fatalities in the last seven years; most recently there were four last year, none in 2013, and two in 2012.