Sunshine and double-digit temperatures have brought motorcycles out of winter storage and back onto area roads.
Their return prompted West Region OPP to issue a safety reminder to all drivers on Wednesday.
"We're asking the motoring public to please double check your blind spots, signal your turns, leave enough distance between you and other vehicles including motorcycle operators," Sergeant Ed Sanchuk said in a video posted to social media. "If you are coming up to an intersection, make sure you check twice. It's going to save a life and prevent a crash."
Sanchuk went on to advise motorcyclists to keep their head "on a swivel."
"Unfortunately, when motorcycle operators are involved in crashes they usually suffer serious, life-threatening injuries or death," said Sanchuk. "So I wanted to put out a friendly reminder to everybody to pay attention to your driving because roadways are communities in themselves that we all need to share and traffic safety is everyone's responsibility."
Last year, was one of the deadliest in at least the past five years for motorcyclists riding on OPP patrolled roads. The death toll from collisions involving motorcycles soared to 49 within the first nine months of 2024. That was a increase from 39 in 2023, 44 in 2022, 35 in 2021 and 42 in 2020.
Spring officially arrives at 5:01 a.m. Thursday.
