May is Motorcycle Safety Month

Ed Conley, AAA Director, Insurance Sales & Financial Services visited with Gary Rivers Wednesday morning to talk about motorcycle safety

Warmer temperatures are drawing motorcyclists to Ohio’s roadways. Historically, this also means an increase in motorcycle crashes. This month, during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, AAA is encouraging motorists and motorcyclists to take steps to prevent crashes and costly out-of-pocket expenses.

During the past five years, more than 18,000 motorcycle crashes occurred on Ohio’s roads, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. As a result of these crashes, 804 motorcyclists died and more than 15,500 were injured. Crashes spike in the spring when the weather warms.

Listen to the Interview

In addition, before hitting the road, motorcyclists should remember to:

• Gear up: Helmets greatly reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash. During the past five years an average of 71 percent of the motorcyclists killed in crashes on Ohio’s roads were not wearing a helmet, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
• Be visible:Position yourself in the lane where drivers can see you. Keep your headlight on, wear bright colors and use reflective tape, even in the daytime.
• Be predictable: Use turn signals and avoid lane splitting, which is illegal in all states except California.
• Never ride impaired:26 percent of fatally injured riders in 2016 were driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• Protect your assets: If you’ve done any work to your bike over the winter, or added any accessories, make sure you have enough insurance coverage for those items, as well as your helmet and leather, in case they’re damaged or stolen.

Drivers can help share the road by keeping an eye out for motorcycles. Be aware that they are back on the roads, so check mirrors and blind spots carefully before entering or leaving lanes.

AAA provides more than 59 million members with travel-, insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.