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Memorial Day, which marks the unofficial start of summer, is just a few days away.
And, with the sunny skies and warmer temperatures that the Tri-State Area is finally experiencing, it's anticipated there will be an increase in traffic this coming weekend and during the weeks ahead. Unfortunately, more vehicles on our roads mean there will be greater chances for accidents. That's why it's important for all motorists to be careful, especially when they are riding or sharing the road with motorcyclists.
While that message always is important, it gets special attention each May, which is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2023, there were 3,878 motorcycle-related traffic crashes in the Buckeye State that resulted in 230 deaths.
During 2023 in Jefferson County there were 20 crashes reported with no deaths, the patrol said. In Columbiana County, 47 crashes resulted in five deaths, while in Harrison County 16 crashes resulted in three deaths and in Carroll County there were 15 crashes and two deaths. Belmont County saw 32 crashes and no fatalities.
So far this year, there have been 730 motorcycle crashes in Ohio and 31 fatalities. Area numbers to date have seen eight crashes in Jefferson County; six crashes each in Belmont and Columbiana counties; two in Carroll County and no crashes in Harrison County. There have been no fatalities reported across the region.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Safety Council report that in 2022, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed. And, in 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 217 motorcycle-related traffic deaths in Pennsylvania and 42 deaths in West Virginia.
Motorcycle riders need to remember to be extra careful on the road, but all drivers need to remember to safely share the road with motorcycles and to be extra alert when driving to help keep motorcyclists safe, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
The foundation reminds motorcyclists to be visible, but pretend they are invisible. They also should gear up for every ride with protective gear. Use of good street strategies is critical, the foundation adds, as is giving the motorcycle a thorough check before riding.
Drivers also have responsibilities including taking an extra moment to look for motorcycles, predicting that a motorcycle is closer than it looks, keeping a safe distance, understanding lane shifting and looking for more than the person -- seeing the rider.
Drivers need to make visual checks for motorcycles often by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
NHTSA adds a reminder that wearing Department of Transportation-compliant helmets can save lives and reduce injuries. Estimates are that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017 and that 749 additional lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.
Riders also need to follow basic safety measures, and that includes at least one motorcycle safety course for novices. Sadly, according to NHTSA, in 2022, 35 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were riding without valid motorcycle licenses.
Drinking alcohol and driving any vehicle has serious consequences, whether behind the handlebars or behind the wheel -- 42 percent of riders involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were impaired by alcohol, as were 46 percent of riders who died in single-vehicle crashes on weekends.
And, while proper safety precautions should always be followed, the weekends and early evening hours carry the greatest risks for motorcyclists.
No matter what we are driving or riding, let's remember to put safety first every time we take to the road.