‘Dramatic increase’ in motorcycle deaths in southwestern Ontario has OPP stressing safety

Police have a robust message for motorcyclists heading out for a joyride this lengthy weekend: Make security a precedence.

The directive comes because the Ontario Provincial Police West Area says there was a “dramatic enhance” in deaths this 12 months in comparison with 2021.

“We have now an issue with lethal penalties,” mentioned OPP Insp. Shawn Johnson of the West Area’s site visitors and marine unit.

“The very last thing I need this weekend, being a vacation weekend, is to have an officer present up at somebody’s door knocking … and telling them that they’ve misplaced a beloved one in a tragedy that was preventable.” 

Bike fatalities have virtually doubled in comparison with final 12 months in southwestern Ontario, and account for greater than half the street deaths within the province this 12 months, police say.

Twelve motorcyclists died in collisions in 2022 within the space — the annual common for the final 10 years — in comparison with seven in the identical interval in 2021. In over 70 per cent of the collisions this 12 months, motorcyclists have been at fault, police mentioned. 

“These collisions don’t must occur. They’re solely preventable and that should cease,” Johnson mentioned. 

Dashing, lack of management and failing to yield at intersections are the highest elements for deadly motorbike collisions. Climate has not been an element — all collisions occurred in clear, sunny and dry situations.

“It is folks which might be out for an gratifying experience on a Saturday or Sunday the place the collisions are a majority taking place,” he mentioned, the bulk between midday and 4 p.m. 

‘It is sobering and it is heartbreaking’

“These persons are sadly getting severely injured and killed on these roadways,” mentioned OPP Const. Melissa Tutin, who’s been driving bikes for 22 years.

“It is sobering and it is heartbreaking.” 

Tutin mentioned motorcyclists ought to by no means assume car drivers can see them. She advises riders to: 

• Hold your head on a swivel, be trying towards the horizon and know your environment. Scan each driveway, intersection, entrance and exit.
• Plan your vacation spot, know the place you are headed and provides your self breaks. 
• Function below the principles of the street — pace limits, street indicators and street strains.

John Patrick, chief motorbike teacher at Fanshawe Faculty, echoes this recommendation. He is been educating motorbike expertise for 30 years. 

“It’s a must to keep in mind that you are on a motorbike and you haven’t any safety,” Patrick mentioned. 

He is involved too many individuals are driving past their skills, and recommends that riders practise each spring and take programs to construct expertise.

“The extra you practise, the extra environment friendly, the higher you may be at no matter you are doing.” 

Older drivers victims

Patrick has seen a demographic shift in his educating, as folks wish to be taught to experience bikes later in life.

He mentioned statistics are regarding, as this 12 months, 28 per cent of deaths in motorbike collisions have been folks between ages 56 and 64. 

“No one likes to listen to that any individual misplaced their life. But it surely ought to be a wake-up name for all of us who’re driving bikes to rethink what we’re doing, re-evaluating what we’re doing, so we’re ready the subsequent time we get on our bike.” 

Gray-Bruce and Norfolk counties every has seen three fatalities within the area this 12 months — the best quantity throughout Ontario. 

The London and Windsor areas aren’t exempt — dealing with a number of the highest fatalities on common during the last decade in Ontario.

Essex County has the best motorbike fatalities common within the province at 19 deaths per 12 months. Middlesex County is third with a median of 14 deaths, behind the Better Toronto Space’s 16. 

“Any harm or demise on our highways are tragic,” Johnson mentioned. “They don’t seem to be tragic simply to the households and to the communities — they’re tragic to the emergency responders that arrive. 

“Do all you’ll be able to to guard your self, just remember to arrive alive, drive defensively, drive like your life is dependent upon it.”