According to officials from multiple Ohio counties, their locales are experiencing a troubling uptick in motorcycle accidents this riding season, and the rise in more than just a bit discernible.
In Stark County, for example, the five deaths incurred in motorcycle crashes thus far this year equal the amount of fatalities seen in that county for all of 2009, and there are, of course, at least two or more months of solid riding ahead before winter weather comes. There were 10 riding deaths in the county during 2010.
And in Clark County, officials issued a warning recently to bikers telling them to always remain vigilant on the roads, noting that that there have already been six deadly crash outcomes in the county so far in 2012. That contrasts to only one fatality during all of last year.
“We hope it’s an anomaly for this year; we hope it does not continue,” said one State Highway Patrol trooper concerning the Clark County crashes. Troopers say the crashes are different this year owing simply to the fact that most of them have been caused by other drivers. Usually, the motorcyclist is at fault, they say.
That is what has been noted in Stark County. Of the seven fatalities that occurred in the county last year, that was the case in all but one of them.
Safety experts continue to urge proper training for novice and even experienced riders. In Stark County, riders can receive three full days of instruction — classroom time and 12 hours of on-the-road training — for only $25.
Source: Canton Repository, “Motorcycle fatalities on the rise,” Lisa Reicosky, Aug. 12, 2012
- Our firm advocates strongly and aggressively for motorcycle riders and passengers who are injured in Ohio through the negligence of other drivers. For more information, we invite readers to visit our Cleveland, Ohio, Motorcycle Accidents page.