CHILLICOTHE— Final 12 months over 4,000 motorcycle-related crashes came about on Ohio roadways a lot of which resulted in severe accidents or demise to the rider.
This month Ohio is celebrating Bike Security Consciousness Month to remind folks the way to keep secure whereas sharing the street with bikes.
One of many largest points with bikes on the street is ensuring others drivers can see them. The common bike is 1/4 the dimensions of a automobile which means it will be important for drivers to concentrate whereas sharing the street as riders could be simply missed.
“Bikes are smaller, they’re more durable to see,” mentioned Sergeant Rod Murphy from the State Freeway Patrol. “It’s straightforward to drag out and never see them which is why you must pay further consideration.”
Murphy states one massive reason for crashes is distracted driving. The division is working to remind drivers to focus their full consideration on the street. Whereas distractions like cellphone, the radio and different passengers can really feel essential they aren’t as essential as somebody’s life.
Drivers may assist scale back accidents by checking their mirrors for riders usually earlier than switching lanes or turning as bikes can usually get misplaced in blind spots. Drivers must also permit bike riders the total lane width simply as they’d with another automobile.
These working a motorbike can improve their security by sporting their helmets whereas on the street. Division of Transportation compliant helmets assist to guard the mind within the occasion of a crash. Bikes don’t provide the identical safety options as a automobile so it will be important for riders to be correctly outfitted whereas on the street.
Everybody on the roads might help lower incidents by ensuring to not function any car whereas impaired. Driving impaired is extraordinarily harmful and will increase the chance of getting an accident on the street.
With the over 400,000 registered bikes in Ohio, 600,000 endorsed riders and lots of extra permits being issued annually drivers might want to proceed to be looking out for bikes always. With the assistance of motorbike riders and automobile drivers Ohio is hoping to see much less incidents and accidents this 12 months.
