May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but the carnage on our local highways so far this month involving cycles gives quite a different impression of how May might be labeled.

There were seven motorcycle fatalities during the month, five in less than a week’s time in the five-county Times News region. These closely followed on the heels of the deaths of two Lehigh Township residents riding on a motorcycle in East Allen Township, Northampton County, in April.

The latest deaths happened Sunday when a cyclist and his passenger were killed in a two-vehicle crash at Forest Inn and Hill roads in Towamensing Township, about eight miles east of Lehighton.

The others were on May 14 on Route 248 in Palmerton, on May 13 on Route 715 in Chestnuthill Township, and also on May 13 in Smithfield Township, both in Monroe County, on May 9 in Salisbury Township, just outside of Allentown, and on May 8 in Hamilton Township, Monroe County, while Ryan VanGorder, 51, was fleeing police, state police said. In addition, a motorcyclist was seriously injured on May 12 in Bethlehem.

Kurt Myers, PennDOT deputy secretary for driver and vehicle services, said that drivers and riders can work together to help lower fatalities and crashes by staying aware while driving or riding, obeying speed limits and being responsible while operating any vehicle.

Myers encouraged residents to take advantage of the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program as a way to refresh their skills.

There were 3,369 crashes involving motorcycles on Pennsylvania roads in 2022, resulting in 217 fatalities. Myers said that the number of crashes fell by more than 200 from 2021, and fatalities also decreased from 230 in 2021. Obviously, a disproportionate number of motorcycle crashes result in more serious injuries and deaths because the cyclists and their machines offer less protection than most other vehicles.

As a result, research has shown that motorcyclists are significantly overrepresented in traffic crashes and fatalities each year. In the most recent year that statistics are available, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and were four times more likely to be injured.

Motorcyclists 55 and older accounted for 27% of motorcyclists killed in 2020. Over the 10-year period from 2011 to 2020, motorcyclist fatalities among the 55-and-older age group increased by 37%, from 1,087 to 1,486.

Here is what motorists can do to ensure safety when motorcycles are present:

• Be aware that motorcycles are smaller than vehicles and may be difficult to see.

• Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections.

• Allow more following distance: leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.

• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.

• Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.

• Never drive impaired.

Motorcyclists can do their part to help avoid crashes by following some simple safety tips:

• Be seen by wearing reflective clothing and put reflective tape on your protective clothing and motorcycle. Also wear face or eye protection and a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.

• Use common sense by riding sober, obeying all speed limits and allowing enough time to react to potentially dangerous situations.

• Know your motorcycle and conduct a pre-ride check.

• Practice safe riding techniques and know how to handle your motorcycle in adverse road and weather conditions.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.