INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Motorcycle enforcement timely

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/opinion/editorial/article/1049523--motorcycle-enforcement-timely
Motorcycle enforcement timely

The launch last Sunday of a new operation by Niagara Regional Police to target unsafe motorcycle driving comes at a time when two-wheeled machines are out in force, with drivers enjoying our all-too-brief summer. ‘Winged Wheel,’ as the operation is dubbed, is targeting areas where motorcycles are frequently driven, and at times when those drivers are more likely to be out on their bikes. Police say they’re targeting drivers who are driving unsafely or aggressively. We’ve all seen our share of motorcycle drivers holding on to the handlebars with one hand, or those insanely fast Japanese bikes — typically driven by younger male drivers — that can accelerate away from stoplights so fast that the drivers are virtually gone from sight in seconds. We’ve also seen motorcycle drivers who weave in and out of traffic, engine whining as they gun the throttle. Police say they’ll also be checking motorcycle safety equipment, including helmets. You don’t have to look very far to see people riding around in those helmets looking more like vintage German war helmets than helmets meeting crash test standards. Data including areas where there are frequent complaints about motorcycle drivers, and where recent accidents involving motorcycles happened, will be used to help police pinpoint problem spots. Let’s hope they also crack down in a big way on the noise pollution of those Harley Davidson bikes and bikes styled after Harleys. Almost to a machine, they’ve had their exhaust systems tooled to emit a deafening, rumbling roar. If someone drove a car making that kind of a racket, the cops would have them pulled over in a heartbeat. The same rules should apply to motorcycles. Police say they’ll also be looking for any motorists driving in a way that their vehicle is endangering motorcycle drivers. That’s also key, because while motorcycles are very safe, stable machines if driven properly, it’s carelessness or aggressiveness by car and truck drivers that often put them in hospital with broken bones. Motorcycles are not as easy to see because of their thinner profile, and what could be a relatively minor fender bender in a car can be a serious crash when you’re riding atop a motorcycle. Take the advise of police and remember that there are more motorcycles out there this time of year, and that those plodding little e-bikes are legally allowed on Ontario roads, and take extra care when driving.