http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/527332.html Troopers putting emphasis on motorcycle safety By MATTHEW SCHOMER, Staff Writer POSTED: July 6, 2010 "Troopers putting emphasis on motorcycle safety"
LISBON - Motorcycle safety has become a big issue at the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and troopers will be putting heavy emphasis on that safety this summer.
Patrol Sgt. Ron Cox noted during the first weekend in June, during which weather was in the 90s, there were five fatal motorcycle accidents, which is unheard of. The district covers Columbiana, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Trumbull and Lake counties.
In response to that weekend, the Highway Patrol has launched a districtwide initiative that will run through the first week
of September to bring awareness about motorcycle safety.
The county had seven motorcycle-based fatalities in 2007.
"That was a bad year for us, but it's since leveled off," he said, noting the county had none in 2008, two in 2009 and none so far this year.
Trooper Barry Thompson noted most motorcycle accidents in the county occur because a driver takes a turn or enters a curve too quickly.
He noted it is easier to drive a motorcycle at a high speed through a curve than it is to do the same with a four-wheeled vehicle because of the way motorcycles are built. But while taking a turn at a high speed, gravel or other debris on the roadway can cause drivers to lose control of a motorcycle, and motorcycles do not handle well if they go off the roadway, which leads to crashes.
"Just because you can take a motorcycle faster through a curve because of the way they're built, it's still very dangerous when you try to make a turn fast," he said.
Although single-vehicle accidents are the most common for motorcycles, Cox said the Patrol also will be encouraging drivers of other vehicles to take extra time when they pull out at intersections to make sure motorcycles are not coming.
"If they could just take extra time to look around twice, to make sure they don't pull out in front of a motorcycle," he said, it could prevent an accident.
While the Highway Patrol's Lisbon post will be stepping up enforcement of motorcycle safety throughout the entire county, the Highway Patrol has used computer technology to determine the times, days and locations where motorcycle accidents happen the most.
Using that information, the Patrol will keep additional watch on state routes 45 and 172 and will keep extra watch throughout the county between 3-5 p.m. daily. The biggest days for motorcycle safety enforcement will be Thursdays and Fridays, the days motorcycle crashes occur most frequently.
Thompson is encouraging motorcycle riders to wear their helmets and not try to drive above their level of experience.
