This week has been declared Motorcycle Awareness Week by OPP with warmer weather and more bikers on the road. Haliburton Highlands OPP is sending Haliburton County riders and non-riders a few safety tips. They say motorcycle riders should drive defensively, slow down, and don’t use the roadway to test the limits of your sport bike. Passenger vehicles should give lots of room for bikers as a rear end collision with a bike could have fatal consequences.
This is the message OPP are sending to people this week:
Motorcycle Riders:
- Dress to be seen and protected. Most riders wear approved helmets, gloves and jackets; consider wearing bright colours that are easily seen by other motorists.
- Slow Down. Driving at or near the posted speed limit will give the rider extra time to react to a situation on the roadway.
- Drive Defensively. Assume other motorist don’t see you. Get eye contact with vehicles that might pull out in front of you.
- Take it to the track. The street is no place to test the limits of your sport bike. Take a lesson at a local race track or sign up for a track day.
Passenger Vehicles:
- Look twice, at intersections and when changing lanes. Motorcycles are small and easy to lose in a blind spot. It is also easy to misjudge the speed of an approaching motorcycle.
- Back off. Having a rear end collision with a car is one thing, but having one with a motorcycle could have fatal consequences.
- Give them room. Leave yourself time to react when motorcycles are around. If a rider were to fall off, could you avoid the downed rider?
- Let them swerve. Motorcyclists will often be active in their own lane. Many times moving, to avoid pot holes or roadkill. Hitting any of these could cause an issue for the rider.