Area law enforcement urge caution as more motorcyclists on road
Recommends diligence for all motorists, avoid texting and impaired driving
5/1/2017Area law enforcement members urged caution for motorcyclists as summer months approach and more riders take to the road.
Officials held a news conference today at Toledo Harley-Davidson to mark the beginning of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. They recommended diligence for all motorists, and to avoid texting and impaired driving.
"Reducing motorcycle fatalities is a national priority," said Jamie Blazevich, Lucas County traffic safety program director.
There were 194 fatal crashes involving motorcycles last year statewide, an increase of 45 percent since 2014. Officials reported another 3,768 injury crashes across Ohio.
Lucas County recorded 205 motorcycle crashes in 2016.
About a quarter of motorcyclists killed in crashes had helmets. Ohio law requires those under 18 or with less than one year of experience wear helmets.