Motorcycle safety front and center amid warmer weather
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The nice weather is very inviting for a motorcycle ride and we are seeing many people hitting the road on their bikes.
According to the most recent data from the Northeast Highway Safety Program, in 2022 there were more than 3,000 motorcycle crashes in Pennsylvania. Just over 200 of those crashes were fatal.
When it comes to people driving motorcycles and people behind the wheel of a car: road safety experts say the key to safety is being aware of your surroundings.
“Stay safe. Have eyes in the back of your head,” said Shamrock Custom Cycles and Auto Collision owner Jim Conarton.
Conarton is an avid motorcycle rider and the owner of Shamrock Custom Cycles and Auto Collision in Carbondale. He says lots of people have been coming in and out making sure their bikes are inspected, safe, and ready to go for the season.
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“You have to have good tires, especially in the summer. If you get caught in the rain and stuff, you get a severe thunderstorm while you’ll be out riding and you’ll be hydroplaning around if you have bald tires, so,” Conarton explained.
He also suggests wearing a helmet, and lots of leather. Mirrors on your bike are also a safe bet.
“A lot of guys like to take their mirrors off but that’s a dangerous thing to do,” Conarton added.
Mirrors help keep riders aware of their surroundings. Something the safety team at PennDOT says is crucial.
“If you are the motorcyclist, you would wanna make sure that you’re wearing a helmet, being aware of your surroundings, because you don’t have as much protection as if you were in a car, and really just making sure you’re keeping your eyes on the road, proper distance in between cars things like that,” PennDOT District 4 Safety press officer Elizabeth Fabri said.
“We want the car drivers to obviously share the road with motorcyclists, we wanna make sure that they keep a safe distance. You really wanna watch your blindspots, your speed,” Northeast Highway Safety Program Coordinator Rebecca Rybak stated.
Rybak says motorcycles can approach unexpectedly at times, even without making any noise.
“You wanna be a defensive driver and be alert,” Rybak added.
Pennsylvania law requires that any person who operates or rides a motorcycle must wear protective headgear unless he or she is over 21 years of age or older and has either two years of riding experience or has completed a motorcycle safety course approved by PennDOT or the motorcycle safety foundation.
PennDOT suggests wearing a helmet regardless.
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