Police are asking motorcycle riders and drivers alike to slow down and be attentive after a recent rash of deadly crashes throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
There were 11 serious collisions involving motorcycles in the region in the last week alone, in locations ranging from Mississauga to Clarington to Innisfil. Five of those crashes saw riders lose their lives.
Many of the latest incidents happened with both motorcyclists and drivers travelling at “very high rates of speed,” according to Sgt. Nicola Morris of the Ontario Provincial Police.
“Oftentimes they involve motorcycle riders weaving in and out of traffic. We have witnesses reporting that. But sometimes it is the people driving cars that aren’t paying attention, and they can put a motorcycle rider at risk also,” Morris said in an interview.
She encouraged motorcyclists to obey the rules of the road and also ensure they are properly equipped with the right safety gear. Morris said police often see motorcycle passengers, for example, with ill-fitting helmets.
She also urged drivers to be vigilant, especially with more motorcycles on the road throughout the warmer months.
“Take an extra look over your shoulder before you change lanes to make sure there isn’t a motorcycle rider in your blind spot and don’t just rely on your mirrors,” Morris said.
“One person being killed on our roadways is one too many.”
Jessica Whittaker knows the pain of losing a loved one in a motorcycle collision. Her brother Jake was killed on his motorcycle just two months short of his 17th birthday in 2016.
She said the reality of the past week’s fatal crashes were difficult to hear.
“It’s just so heartbreaking, because I know what it feels like. All those families getting that news,” Whittaker told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Tuesday.
Five motorcyclists have been killed on GTA roads in just the past week. Metro Morning guest host Molly Thomas spoke with Jessica Whittaker, founder of the Look Twice Save a Life campaign, about what needs to happen to make roads safer.
After her brother’s death, Whittaker started a campaign called “Look Twice, Save a Life” that encourages drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists.
A lot of road users associate motorcycles with highways, Whittaker said, but it’s important for drivers to be aware of motorcyclists in all settings.
“I’ve seen signs on the highway that say ‘look for motorcycles’ but a lot of the accidents actually happen in urban areas. They are happening at intersections. It’s not just on highways that people need that reminder to look twice,” she said.