OPP Create Motorcycle Awareness Week Following Numerous Collisions

Sunday, 10 May 2015 at 11:33

As warmer weather invades the area OPP want to remind motorists to be on the lookout for motorcycles.

OXFORD COUNTY - The West Region OPP Headquarters have designated this week as Motorcycle Awareness week.

This comes after two collisions last weekend involving motorcycles sent drivers to hospital with serious injuries.

As the warmer weather settles in, and people start thinking about summer, we will likely see more and more motorcycles out on the roads. OPP Police Constable Lisa Narancsik says it's important for drivers to be aware of small vehicles hiding in the blind spots."So four-wheeled vehicles just need to be aware of what's around us. Just like motorcycles and bicycles - they're all out on the roads and we just have to drive according to the roads. And who's around us - being aware at all times. Just like our basic driving skills - being aware of signs, being aware of road ways, just to keep everybody safe. "

Constable Narancsik says the onus for safety cannot completely fall on the four-wheeled drivers: "Motorcyclists can also be aware of the blind spots of maybe larger vehicles. The drivers of the motorcycles should be making sure that before they make a manoeuvre, whether it's turning a scorner or passing a vehicle that they will be able to do so in a safe manner. "

When it comes to being safe on motorcycles, Constable Narancsik says it really boils down to common sense. "If you're operating for your own safety - so you would probably in the best safety be wearing your closed toed shoes because I know I've seen people wearing shorts. And if something does happen and you have nothing to protect you and you have to go down, if you're wearing shorts or sandals there's going to be some serious damage that occurs."

She also reminds drivers to be careful going into the summer as more children and bicycles will hit the streets.