Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are raising the alarm about a sharp rise in the number of motorcyclists killed on OPP-patrolled roads so far this year.
According to an OPP news release on Friday, 36 motorcyclists have been killed compared to 23 fatalities at this time last year. In over half the deaths, driver actions that led to the collision were on the part of the motorcyclist, police said.
12 of the fatalities occurred in July, with five more motorcyclists killed during the first week of August.
"Excessive speed, loss of control and improper passing are among the driver actions behind the crashes," the police news release stated. "Safe, attentive driving on the part of motorists is all it takes to prevent the senseless loss of life on roadways. Motorcyclists must also do their part to stay safe by driving within the speed limit and complying with all traffic laws which go a long way toward keeping riders and their passengers safe."
