OHIO: Motorcycle crashes more frequent, deadly in 2010

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http://www.sanduskyregister.com/2010/dec/04/motorcycleoverview111910mtxml

Motorcycle crashes more frequent, deadly in 2010
Melissa Topey
Sandusky

It hasn't been a good year for local motorcycles riders, who are on pace to surpass last year's total number of motorcycle crashes.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Sandusky post has already logged 38 motorcycle wrecks so far this year, 11 more than the total number in 2009.
Perhaps more unsettling: The collisions have been far more deadly this year. Four of the crashes this year resulted in deaths, while in 2009 one crash was fatal.
Still, this year's total number of crash-related deaths is lower than 2008, when the Sandusky post investigated 10 fatalities.
The national trend in 2009, meanwhile, indicated motorcycle-related crashes have been declining, said Robert Gladden, spokesman for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. But even that isn't all good news.
"Motorcyclists are still over-represented (in crashes) for the percentage of roadway users," Gladden said.
Bikers make up 3 percent of drivers on the road, but they account for 13 percent of fatal crashes.
Ohio State Highway Patrol, Sandusky post
2010
Crashes: 38
Fatal: 4
2009
Crashes: 27
Fatal: 1
2008
Crashes: 35
Fatal: 10
Sandusky police
2010
Crashes: 10
Fatal: 0
2009
Crashes: 13
Fatal: 0
Erie County Sheriff's Office
2010
Crashes: 5
Fatal: 0
2009
Crashes: 6
Fatal: 0