TOLEDO, Ohio — Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, observed in May, is a shared responsibility for all road users. The Ohio State Highway Patrol urges both drivers and motorcycle riders to prioritize safety on the roads.
From 2019-2023 there were over 19,000 thousand crashes that involved motorcycles.
OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura explains how drivers can be safe and prevent crashes from happening.
"It's important in the metro areas to be on the lookout for those motorcyclists. When you're coming up to an intersection, look twice, save a life is the phrase that's used," Purpura said. "Check the intersections because that motorcyclist could be in your blind spot for a second. If you look twice, you can avoid some of that."
OSHP statistics show that Lucas County and Wood County combined for 11 deadly motorcycle deaths in 2023.
"For our motorcycle riders, we encourage them to use their protective gear, ride trained and sober and have their endorsement," Purpura said. "Oftentimes we see in motorcycle-related crashes that the motorcyclist is at fault and oftentimes they don't have endorsement."
Sgt. Purpura shared OSHP's tools for success when on the roads.
"This time of year, we are going to see an increase in riders on our roadways. The weather's turning nice, so there are motorcycle riders going to be out there," Purpura said. "We ask those motorcycle riders to put themselves in a position to be safe, wear their safety gear and be highly visible. For our motor public, we ask that they look twice. There are motorcycle riders out there."
It's crucial to remember that in Ohio, wearing a helmet is mandatory for those aged 18 and under. Additionally, riders with less than one year of experience are required to wear a helmet.
For more resources on motorcycle safety in Ohio, HERE.