Kentuckians are being reminded during National Motorcycle and Bike Safety Month to watch out for each other as warmer weather brings more people out on the roadways on two wheels.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety says that in 2023 there were just under 2,000 crashes involving motorcycles and about 350 involving bikes in Kentucky. Those crashes resulted in more than 1,700 injuries and 127 deaths.
Motorcycles and bikes have all of the same rights and regulations as any motor vehicle on the highway, but their smaller size makes them harder for other drivers to see.
The KYTC is reminding drivers to look twice when driving through any intersection or changing lanes. Drivers should also eliminate distractions, maintain a safe following distance, and leave extra time to signal turns and lane changes.
Motorcycle and bike riders should always wear a DOT-approved helmet along with protective gear and reflective elements. Always obey speed limits and other traffic laws, and position yourself in a visible way.
The importance of safety involving motorcycles got a stark reminder this week following the death of Kentucky State Police Post Two Trooper Johnathan Johnson of Bowling Green. Johnson was off-duty and traveling south on Nashville Road on a motorcycle Tuesday when a driver made a left-hand turn into Johnson’s path, resulting in a crash. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Warren County Coroner’s Office. The KSP says the investigation into the crash is ongoing, and funeral arrangements for Trooper Johnson are pending.
