Push for motorcycle safety reduces fatalities and injuries in the South Okanagan

PENTICTON – The South Okanagan and Similkameen were safer places to ride a motorcycle last year, with only one fatality and a couple dozen injuries.

RCMP is reporting a significant improvement in the motorcycle crash rate in the Okanagan-Similkameen for 2015, South Okanagan Traffic Services spokesperson Sgt. Harold Hallett says.

A trend of spiralling fatal and injury motorcycle crashes identified early in 2015 from the past two years continued into last spring, and South Okanagan Traffic Services worked to bring the issue to the public’s attention through an education program.

The trend was conversation in motorcycle shops throughout the region, and a proactive motorcycle skills demonstration in Penticton worked to bring awareness of the issue home to area motorcycle riders last spring.

Reserve Const. Dave Cramm, who is a motorcycle instructor, conducted roadside safety talks with many motorcyclists, resulting in an outpouring of overwhelmingly positive feedback.

In 2014 there were four fatal crashes involving motorcycles and 39 crashes resulting in injury in the South Okanagan and Similkameen.

In 2015, one person died and 28 were injured on motorcycles — a 75 per cent reduction in fatalities and a 33 per cent reduction in crashes.

Hallett says South Okanagan Traffic Services plans to continue with these safety efforts in 2016.

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