Ohio Patrol Urges Motorcycle Safety, Sober Driving

The State Highway Patrol is marking National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month this May by reminding drivers to be extra careful with more motorcycles out and about as the weather gets warmer.

The patrol says crashes involving motorcycles killed more than 500 people and injured more than 11,000 from 2009 to 2011. Last year, there were 167 such fatalities, and motorcyclists were at fault in more than two-thirds of those cases.

Troopers say it’s important for motorcyclists to be sober when they hit the road. About half of the fatal motorcycle crashes in 2011 involved a motorcyclist who was impaired.

The patrol says motorcyclists also can help protect themselves by getting proper training and wearing safety gear.