Now that motorcycle enthusiasts are out on the roads, Grey County Ontario Provincial Police wish to remind all road users that safe, defensive driving is paramount to reducing the number of motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

Motorcycles are more vulnerable because they are harder to see than other vehicles and lack characteristics that contribute to directly to occupant safety - in other words, there is virtually no protection in a crash.

Impaired, aggressive and distracted driving are high-risk behaviors that have no place on our roads - especially when motorcycles are involved.

Motorcyclists should avoid riding in a vehicle's blind spot in an effort to reduce the chance of a potential collision caused by motorists who may not see them.

For Motorists:

- Share the road with motorcycles - in almost half of all motorcycle collisions, the motorist is at fault, not the motorcyclist.

- Motorists should always have a watchful eye out for motorcycles given how difficult they can be to see.

- Watch for motorcycles at intersections - over one third of motorcycle collisions are intersection related.

For Motorcyclists:

- Motorcyclists should not assume that other drivers can see them - drivers that have collided with motorcycles often say they did not see the motorcycle until it was too late.

- Be seen at intersections - as stated above, over one third of the motorcycle collisions are intersection related.

- Always ride at a speed appropriate for the road and weather conditions, as speeding and loss of control are major causes of motorcycle collisions.

- Always wear an approved motorcycle helmet and bright, high-quality protective gear to make you more visible to other motorists.

LEARN MORE:

Ministry of Transportation (MTO) - Road Safety Topics:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/

Canada Safety Council's Gearing Up" program:
http://www.ridertraining.org/

source: media release, Grey County OPP