By STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writer - smillberg@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
May 01, 2008 11:41 pm
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WINDSOR TOWNSHIP — A portion of Route 534 is among the top 10 most dangerous roadways for motorcyclists in the state, according to data released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Route 534 is ranked eighth along with Harrison Avenue in Hamilton county. The top 10 dangerous roadway segments have the highest frequency of fatal and injury crashes for motorcycles in the past six years, according to OHP.
Between 2002 and 2007, there were 48 fatal/injury crashes on Route 534 between mile posts 2 and 5. In neighboring Lake County, Route 20 in Mentor is ranked fourth, with 56 fatal/injury crashes occurring during the six-year time-frame, according to OHP.
“Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to being killed in a crash than motorists,” said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Henry Guzman. “The majority of motorcyclists involved in crashes have no formal training, making rider training a critical component to reducing motorcycle-related fatalities. We are encouraging all riders to take a training course, even if it is a refresher.”
OHP and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) have teamed up once again and created a motorcyclist point-of-view video and data regarding the top 10 roadway segments. The release of the video and data comes as the two organizations continue their nationally recognized Ride Smart. Drive Smart. safety education partnership for a fourth consecutive riding season, according to OHP.
On a local level, in response to the high number of motorcycle related crashes on the section of Route 534, OHP last year erected signs before the curves, both northbound and southbound, to alert motorcyclists of the dangerous curves ahead. The signs are one-of-a-kind, tailored specifically to those curves.
In 2007, statewide, there were 4,982 crashes involving motorcycles.
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