Utah Highway Patrol discuss motorcycle safety with warmer weather on the way

UTAH (ABC4) – In accordance to the Utah Highway Basic safety Office environment, there had been 1,148 bike crashes in 2021 and 53 so far this 12 months. Last year’s crashes peaked through the month of June at 177.

Utah Highway Patrol suggests that in the summertime months when a lot more motorcyclists ride, accidents increase.

They shared how to aid maintain these quantities down.

Grant Holmes has been using motorcycles for all around seventeen decades. It is in his loved ones — his father rode much too.

In 2018, he had a severe accident. A driver turned on the side street throughout website traffic at night time and Holmes was hit, placing him in the hospital for a week.

“I expended likely a solid four months for recovery, and then about a yr a entire recovery from it,” he explained.  

What he desires individuals to know is to be on the lookout for bikes, specifically due to the fact some folks may trip additional with recent fuel selling prices, and as temperatures warm up. 

“A good deal of instances individuals just are not aware, they aren’t hunting for them,” Holmes stated.

He suggests that despite the fact that incidents transpire, it is important to do what you can to protect you — like creating certain your bike is managing correctly and you’re putting on the right equipment.

“The a lot more you can do to mitigate the risks, and reduce the likelihood of seriousness, the greater,” he mentioned.

Sgt. Cameron Roden with Utah Highway Patrol says that recognition is substantial on the highway for both drivers and motorcyclists. Particularly considering that motorcyclists can sometimes be difficult to see, Sgt. Roden advises that folks double-test their blind spots, particularly in parts like intersections.

And of study course, put absent any distractions.

“Make certain that we are focused on driving and driving only and not permitting other things consider our minds, our arms out of driving, that way we are concentrated and can react,” Sgt. Roden reported.

For motorcyclists, he claims to travel defensively, master how appropriately enter and exit the HOV lane and know Utah laws, particularly lane filtering on the appropriate roadways.

“On roadways a lot less than 45 miles for each hour, website traffic is stopped. At the very least two or additional lanes have to be in get to lane filter,” Sgt. Roden said.

He also says it’s significant to check out and keep away from in staying in blind spots and keep speed.

“We hope as we begin this spring and head into these hotter summer months, that we can hold motorcyclists and motorists with each other. That we are on the very same website page and retain everyone secure.”

The two Holmes and Sgt. Roden emphasized the importance of shielding by yourself when using a motorcycle, and they said the ideal way to do that is to make sure you often wear a helmet.