June 2024 Press Release

Safe Communities reports that there have been 6 fatal crashes in 2024, compared to 4 at this time last year.

Summer is here!! Road trips, spending time at the lake, camping, grilling and gardening – all of our summer favorites!  Another summer favorite for many is a ride on your motorcycle on a beautiful, bright summer day.

In 2023 in Wood County, there were 3 fatal crashes involving motorcycles and a total of 33 crashes involving motorcycles. This year to date, there has been one fatality and 10 crashes involving motorcycles. That is 4 too many lives lost in Wood County. 

Safe Communities offers the following tips to riders:

• Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. Make sure you wear a helmet every time you ride.
• Proper riding gear protects you from more than a crash. Be safe as you ride.
• 36% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2021 were riding without valid motorcycle licenses. Check your license and make sure it is current. 
• Drinking and riding your motorcycle don’t mix. Ride sober or get pulled over.
• Ride at a safe speed to make it home safely and keep the road safe for others.
• Make sure you have everything you need to ride safely, like your helmet, protective gear and motorcycle license.
• Look up your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check for any recalls to keep riding safely.
• Your ride matters. Make it a safe one by following the speed limit.

Safe riding practices and cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. But it’s especially important for drivers to understand the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists such as size and visibility, and motorcycle riding practices like downshifting and weaving to know how to anticipate and respond to them. By raising motorists’ awareness, both drivers and riders will be safer sharing the road.

Let’s make this the safest summer on the roads when it comes to Motorcycle Safety.