Now that the summer weather is here, we can expect to see more motorcycles on roads and highways.
The Ontario Provincial Police are out with tips for drivers to avoid collisions with motorcycles.
They include:
- Making sure that you are safe to proceed before doing so; check your mirrors and all around your car
- Slowing down as you come to an intersection and look carefully for traffic, traffic control signals, cyclists, and pedestrians. Over 1/3 of all crashes with motorcycles are intersection-related.
- Being extra cautious when turning left in front of a motorcycle. It’s difficult to judge their speed and the turn signal may unintentionally be on as some models don’t shut off automatically.
- Watching for signs, such as shoulder checking or leaning, that indicate the rider is going to change lanes.
- A motorcycle is more difficult to see than other vehicles and its profile is smaller from most angles.
- Drivers can easily misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or distance.
- Make sure you don’t pull out in front of, or cut off, a motorcycle.
- Speed and other aggressive tactics such as tailgating can be more dangerous to the motorcyclist who has less protection on a smaller open vehicle.
- Give other drivers space to change lanes, avoid cutting them off, signal your turns and lane changes properly.
Police also advising all drivers that they must share the road and be courteous to others who use it.
Anyone who sees any form of aggressive or unsafe driving should contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.
