Kentucky State Patrol Urges Safety Amid Spike in Motorcycle Crashes

Kentucky State Police officials are turning to social media for a safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle crashes.

State police say they plan to send out safety messages on Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts.

The safety campaign comes amid an upswing in motorcycle-related crashes this year.

Through April 4, state police say there have been 249 crashes, up 69 percent from a year ago. The 167 injuries this year are up 75 percent from a year ago, and the nine deaths are 44 percent higher than at the same point in 2011.

KSP spokesman Lt. David Jude says with the unseasonably warm weather, more motorcyclists are on the road earlier than usual. He says one main concern is to increase driver recognition of motorcyclists in traffic.