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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-05-25, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Driver Behaviour Needs To Change To Stem The Deaths On And Off Ontario Roads OPP Emphasizes Motorcycle and Off -Road Vehicle Safety over May Long Weekend OPP fatality data for motorcyclists and off-road vehicle deaths reveals that the behaviour of drivers on and off the road is responsi- ble for the overwhelming majority of the deaths. Over the past ten years (2006-2015), there have been 267 motorcycle and 167 off- road vehicle (ORV) rider deaths in collisions investi- gated by the OPP. With motorcycle and ORV enthusiasts set to hit the roads and trails in large numbers over the long weekend, the OPP is shedding light on some eye- opening facts about deaths among these two categories of recreational vehicle users. Too many safe motorcy- clists paying the price Sadly, last year (2015) marked the first year that more than half of the motorcyclists who have died in OPP-investi- gated collisions these past ten years were killed through no fault of their own. A total of 27 motorcyclists and four passen- gers lost their lives last year, with a record 17 of those motorcycle drivers reported as driving properly at the time of the crash that ended their lives. Little change in leading causes of motorcycle deaths Various causal factors came into play in these fatal crashes, with loss of control (33), speed (30), failing to yield (28) and driver inattention (26) leading the list over the ten-year period. While these causal factors can be attributed to either the It was a fun night until Thousands of teenagers meet for 'bush party' that took several turns for the worst A message that went viral on social media resulted in an estimated 2,000 - 3,000 teenagers showing up at a "bush party" located on Bron- son Line & Staffa Road last weekend. And pre- dictably, this party did come with its fair share of problems. Some of the concern- ing events that took place last weekend included a young male that received lacerations to his face after a beer bottle exploded in a bonfire and glass frag- ments were sent flying. In another incident, an intoxicated female col- lapsed, fell on a rock and fractured her arm. Police also learned sev- eral of the party goers motorcyclist or the driver(s) of other vehicle(s) involved in the collision, the bottom line is that motorcyclists and other drivers need to do a better job of shar- ing the road safely. The hard truth about ORV ejection and no helmet Ten-year ORV data revealed that off-roaders in large num- bers continue to ride without helmets, with 74 of the 167 deceased riders found wearing no helmet at the time of the crash. With the vast majority (154) of those who died being ejected from their vehicle, the OPP remains concerned about the significant number of off- roaders who may falsely believe they can survive serious head trauma better than those who are ejected from other types of motorized vehicles. Some actions and condi- tions of drivers make ORV crashes no "accidents" Among the deceased ORV were indiscriminately tossing fireworks into a bonfire. Other prob- lems consisted of intoxi- cated persons on the roadway, plenty of underage and highly intoxicated youth, noise complaints and public urination complaints. Huron OPP officers learned the party organ- izer was granted permis- sion to have a "few" friends over however within hours the mes- sage was shared on social media and the drivers over the past ten years, 69 of them were reported as having lost control of their vehicle. The data also revealed that 69 of the fatalities involved a driver who had consumed alcohol before or during their ride. Of the riders who have died these past ten years, 16 of them were innocent passen- gers, some of whom were not victims of an inevitable "acci- dent" but rather victims who died as a result of irresponsible driving behaviour. Teen and youth deaths Sadly, 25 of the deceased ORV riders these past ten years were teenagers and some of the victims were even younger. These tragic, pre- ventable deaths speak to the importance of all ORV users respecting the law and setting excellent examples for chil- dren who are being intro- duced to off-roading, whether as a new rider or a passenger. "few" friends turned into over two thousand people. For public safety reasons the prop- erty owner requested police shut the party down. Huron OPP has received information that planning has begun for a similar bush/field party to take place this upcoming long -week- end. Police know that these large, unorganized and often out of control parties place youth at tremendous risk for ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES ( Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm j OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 9am - 5pm • Fri. 8am - 4pm CLOSED TUESDAYS An A Seaforth 8 Main St., Seaforth HiEron Expositor PH:519-527-0240 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com QUOTES Whether you are travelling by motorcycle, off-road vehicle or any other vehicle over the Victoria Day Long Weekend, the OPP is counting on every- one to drive safely and defen- sively. The motoring public is one of our most valued safety partners and by working together, we can significantly reduce the number of prevent- able collisions and the resulting loss of life on and off the road: - J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes, Commissioner, Ontario Pro- vincial Police "The Victoria Day long weekend brings thoughts of road trips and family vaca- tions, but as we look forward to summer, we must remem- ber that we all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. It is up to every one of us to do our part to make sure we drive responsibly to keep all road users safe both injury and/or breaking the law. Here are some of the more common issues associated with bush parties: • Under -age drinking • Alcohol poisoning • Illicit drug usage • Trespassing • Fights • Sexual Assaults • Impaired driving crashes •Limited access to the site for EMS So if your son or daughter asks for a ride to a bush party please Did You Know? On July 1, 2015, the gov- ernment of Ontario imple- mented new changes that affect ORV and ATV (all - terrain vehicles) riders. Click here for more info: this long weekend and all year long." - Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Cor- rectional Services. "The safety of all road users, including off-road vehicle drivers, is a top prior- ity for my ministry. Along with police and our other road safety partners, we con- tinue to focus on public edu- cation activities that pro- mote safe and responsible riding practices." - Steven Del Duca, Minis- ter of Transportation consider all the dangers your child is exposed to if they attend. Hopefully after communicating all the involved risks your son or daughter will make an informed and responsible decision to sit the next party out. A decision to attend a bush party where there is known problems is a risky proposition. Please do your part, keep safe and avoid the unneces- sary troubles and risks that come with bush parties. 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