Northwest Iowa — To call attention to the dangers and vulnerabilities motorcyclists face on the road, the month of May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz says motorcyclists need to be some of the most defensive drivers on the road.
Kurtz says there are things motorcyclists can do to protect themselves on the road.
According to the Iowa Department of Transprtation, between 2013 and 2017, 240 motorcyclists lost their lives on Iowa roadways. Of those, 185 motorcyclists were not wearing a DOT approved motorcycle safety helmet.
Trooper Kurtz says intersections are the biggest issue when it comes to car vs motorcycle crashes.
The intersection issue was illustrated earlier this week in Scott County, in southeast Iowa, where a motorcyclist was killed when his bike collided with an SUV that made a left turn into his path.
Kurtz says motorcycle safety is a two-way street, both motorcyclists and motorists have responsibilities.
Motorcyclists, remember you’re hard for motorists to see. Motorists, remember that you are sharing the road with motorcyclists, so be especially alert, and we maybe we can cut down on the motorcycle fatality numbers this year.
