With the number of fatalities from motorcycles crashes in Ontario poised to hit a seven-year high, the Ontario Provincial Police are sending out a warning for all drivers.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said so far this year they have investigated 26 fatalities involving motorcycles — 25 motorcyclists and one passenger. Last year they investigated 29 collisions and there are still several months of good weather for motorcycling driving ahead this year.
“We’re concerned these numbers may continue to climb and it may be the worst record in the last seven years,” Schmidt said, adding that from this date to the end of last year, there were nine fatalities. “We potentially could have a really bad year if the numbers continue to climb as they have been over the past several months.”
What may surprise people is that it isn’t young and inexperienced motorcyclists who are getting killed.
“We’re finding that most of the people that are being killed are in the 45- to 54-year-old age demographic,” he said.
And most of the time, the motorcyclist is wearing a helmet, all of the safety gear, driving in good weather conditions and obeying all of the laws. Schmidt found that most of the collisions they have investigated over the past seven years have been the fault of the car driver involved in the collision.
“If you are driving a car, or any other vehicle, you need to be very sure of your surroundings, especially when making lane changes. Check your blind spots. Motorcycles are small, they are hard to see and you may not see them until the last moment,” he said. “Often the motorcycle driver may not be able to react in time.”
Schmidt also rides a motorcycles and said it is very important for motorcyclists to remain visible all the time.