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Ohio motorists should expect to see more motorcycle riders on the road as the weather turned warmer this month.
Motorcycle Ohio, a division of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, is planning events and announcements in advance of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May.
"There are over 400,000 registered motorcycles on Ohio's roadways, and safety is everyone's responsibility," Gov. Mike DeWine said.
DeWine reminded motorists that with the new distracted driving law in effect, "all drivers must put their phones down when they're behind the wheel and stay aware and alert."
In 2022, 209 Ohioans were killed in motorcycle-related crashes, accounting for almost 18 percent of all fatal crashes in the state, according to information provided by Motorcycle Ohio. Some 81 percent of motorcycle crashes occur between May and October and these crashes are more likely to occur on a weekend, with 53 percent happening on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The highest number of motorcycle-related crashes occurred in Cuyahoga County, with 345 crashes in 2022 alone.
Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson said motorcycle crashes are 100 percent preventable.
"With more motorcycles on the road this time of year, drivers must look for riders who may be in their blind spots and always share the road with riders, but never share the lane," Wilson said.
Two Motorcycle Ohio training courses are available in the area -- one at Trumbull Career & Technical Center in Champion and the other at the Kent State campus in Salem. Registration information is available at https://motorcycle.ohio.gov/.
"Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for motorcycle ridership, and we expect our riding community to continue to grow," said Michele Piko, the program coordinator for Motorcycle Ohio. "This year, more riders are signing up to get trained, and we are experiencing near-record course registration."
Funded by motorcycle plate fees and class registrations, the mission of Motorcycle Ohio is to provide affordable, effective training courses and to reduce fatalities and injuries on Ohio's roadways through rider education, public information campaigns and licensing improvement.
Riders over 18 are not required by Ohio law to wear a helmet, but Motorcycle Ohio hopes that acknowledging riders who wear proper protective gear through its "Saved by a Helmet" campaign will help promote and increase awareness of the life-saving value of motorcycle helmets.
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