Summer means more motorcycles, danger on roads

Posted on May 9, 2015
Motorycles

Staying off cell phones is just one way to keep motorcyclists safe. (Photo courtesy hardy boi)

By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – The weather is warming up and that means more motorcycles are on the road.

More than 100 Illinois motorcyclists died in accidents in 2014 and Mike Koester with the ABATE Motorcycle Group of Illinois said drivers must be aware of their surroundings as motorcycle season gets underway.

“There’s a lot of spots on your car that create blind spots,” Koester said. “And it takes a very little bit of an object to make a 200-pound biker on a motorcycle totally disappear. That’s why we strongly recommend everyone looks at least three times when at an intersection.”

Koester had another piece of advice for drivers: put down your cell phone.

“If you’re using a cell phone in the car you’re automatically distracted,” said Koester. “And with motorcycles being harder to see that greatly increases the possibility of having an accident with them. With the blind spots you could have just a few seconds to avoid them. And if you’re on the cell phone that greatly increases the risk of hitting them.”

You can find more safety tips and even earn your motorcycle license online at startseeingmotorcycles.org.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].

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