Motorcycle safety prioritized after two crashes in one day in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Temperatures are on the rise in Central Illinois, and motorcycles on the road are, too. After winter, drivers will need to acclimate to seeing people hop back onto their bikes.
Motorcycle safety is back in the spotlight after two crashes involving motorcycle drivers in Champaign on Tuesday. Police said there are no updates for one rider sent to the hospital in critical but stable condition. The other had only minor injuries.
Motorcyclist Alven Allison said it’s an important reminder for people on bikes and cars to always be aware of their surroundings.
“I try to keep distance,” he said. “With all this technology in cars now, you got people with full tablets on their screen, so the attention is not there anymore.”
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Allison is stressing motorcycle safety.
“I grew up in a biker family,” he said. “All my uncles rode. My mom rode. My dad rode.”
Allison has been riding for more than 35 years and said everyone knows someone who’s been in a wreck.
“The bikers are bonded. We wave to each other on the highway. We help each other. It’s what we do,” Allison said. “So, when you hear about another bike down, it doesn’t matter — sport bike, street bike, whatever — we all feel it personally.”
Police said the first car vs. motorcycle accident sent a motorcyclist to the hospital in critical but stable condition. In the second incident, the was injured, but is expected to be ok.
Both people driving the cars involved in the crash were ticketed.
Allison said safety on the roads is everyone’s responsibility.
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“Just give us our distance, more than anything,” he said. “Give the bikers their distance. If it’s a big group of bikes, give them more distance.”
Motorcyclists, as they are driving smaller vehicles, need to find creative ways to make their presence known.
“The things I do with bikes are loud pipes,” Allison said. “Make your music loud.”
And the more visible, the better.
“You want your bike to look like a Christmas tree at all times,” Allison added. “You just have to be seen. We’re not as big as a truck or a car. So, anything we could do for somebody to notice us, we’re going to do it.”
IDOT said last year, 160 people on motorcycles died from crashes. So far this year, two people have been killed in the state.
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