For Motorcyclists:

• Dress to be seen and protected. Wear approved helmets, gloves and jackets, and consider wearing bright colours that are easily seen by other motorists.
• Slow down. Respecting the posted speed limit and adjusting your speed in response to changing weather conditions will allow you time to respond safely.
• Drive defensively. Consider that other motorists may not see you and try making eye contact with vehicles that might pull out in front of you.
• Take it to the track. The street is no place to test the limits of your sport bike. Take a lesson at a local racetrack or sign up for a track day.

For Motorists:

• Look twice at intersections and when changing lanes. Motorcycles are small and easy to lose in a blind spot. It is also easy to misjudge the speed of an approaching motorcycle.
• Back off. Having a rear-end collision with a car is one thing, but having one with a motorcycle could have fatal consequences.
• Give them room. Leave yourself time to react when motorcycles are around. If a rider were to fall off, could you avoid the downed rider?
• Give them space to swerve safely. Motorcyclists often need to be active in their own lane to avoid obstacles such as potholes or roadkill. Hitting any of these could cause an issue for the rider.

The OPP is dedicated to road and pedestrian safety, especially with the increase of tourists enjoying the Haliburton area during the nice weather. The Haliburton Highlands OPP remind the public – residents and visitors alike – to be cautious of the increase in traffic and pedestrians by obeying speed limits, being patient and sharing the roads. Let’s work together and prioritize safety to ensure a memorable summer for everyone.

The post Haliburton Highlands OPP Remind Visitors And Locals About Motorcycle Safety appeared first on Muskoka411.

Between 2012 and 2021, the OPP investigated 326 fatal motorcycle incidents that claimed the lives of 342 motorcyclists. Over the 10-year period, the motorcyclists who died were reportedly the at-fault driver in 60.7 per cent of the crashes, with 39.3 per cent of those who were at fault being drivers of other vehicles.

One hundred and twenty (120) of the fatalities were collisions that involved a single motorcycle, with at least one other vehicle being implicated in the other 222 deaths.

The data is a stark reminder that there can be zero risks and errors on the part of motorcyclists and that even the safest, most defensive riders must rely on nearby motorists exercising the same degree of safety in order to avoid causing a deadly crash.

Excessive speed, failing to yield right of way and driver inattention remain lead contributing factors in OPP-investigated motorcycle fatalities every year.

With Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month marking the start of peak riding season, motorcyclists and other drivers need to watch out for each other at all times and be mindful that motorcycle safety is the responsibility of every driver.

The OPP is reminding motorcyclists and drivers that sharing the road responsibly, observing posted speed limits and keeping alcohol, drugs and distractions off our roads are vital to reducing the number of motorcycle collisions, injuries and deaths.

The OPP encourages motorcyclists to follow them on social media throughout the month to view some helpful motorcycle safety videos aimed at both new and experienced riders.

The post OPP Releases Data For Collisions Involving Motorcyclists appeared first on Muskoka411.