State Patrol promotes motorcycle safety

VW independent/submitted information

COLUMBUS — May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds motorcyclists to ride trained and sober. Also, motorists should be aware there will be an increase in motorcycles on the roadways with the coming of warmer weather.

In 2017, motorcycle-involved crashes resulted in 155 fatal crashes, which is a 20 percent decrease from 2016. Another 3,409 crashes resulted in injuries. Only 29 percent of the motorcyclists killed in crashes were wearing helmets.

Ohio law requires helmets for riders under 18 and drivers with less than one year of motorcycle experience. Passengers on motorcycles must wear helmets when the driver is required to do so.

Motorcyclists can help protect themselves and others from injury or death by taking a training class and wearing safety equipment.In 2017, the Patrol issued a total of 1,949 citations to motorcyclists, 20 percent were for operating a motorcycle without a proper license. Riding sober is also important. Last year, 9 percent of the fatal crashes involving motorcycles were alcohol- and/or drug related.

Motorcycle safety is not solely the responsibility of motorcyclists. All motorists need to be aware of their surroundings and other vehicles sharing the roadway. Motorists should keep in mind:

• Give motorcyclists a full lane of travel.
• Look for motorcyclists on the highway, at intersections, and any time a vehicle is changing lanes.
• Allow plenty of space in front of the vehicle one is driving and do not follow a motorcycle too close.

For more information, visit www.motorcycle.ohio.gov.

A statistical map detailing citations and other motorcycle related information can be found at

http://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/Motorcycle_Bulletin_2018.pdf.