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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | 6 Motorcycle safety a concern for all motorists Our sister newspaper, the Flamborough Review, recently published an article on a 26-year-old man who suffered critical injuries after his motorcycle collided with a sedan on Hwy. 8 in Flamborough Sunday afternoon. Last weekend's serious crash just beyond Halton's border is the latest to be investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in what could become the worst year for motorcycle fatalities since 2007. A few days before the Flamborough crash, the OPP reported 26 motorcycle fatalities -- 25 drivers and one passenger -- so far this year and there's still two months of prime motorcycle-riding weather remaining. "Other than a careless few that we come across during our enforcement operations, the OPP believes Ontario motorcyclists, in general, recognize they are a vulnerable road user and demonstrate safe, defensive driving," said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, who is also the Provincial Commander of Traf c Safety and Operational Support. In addition to reminding everyone who uses provincial highways to always be alert to all traf c around them, the OPP dispelled some myths surrounding fatalities involving motorcyclists. · Myth: Young, inexperienced motorcyclists are the most vulnerable, at-risk riders and account for the largest number of victims who die in motorcycle crashes in Ontario. · Fact: From 2008-14 (as of Aug. 18), only 16 of the 175 motorcyclists who have died on OPP-patrolled roads were under age 25. The highest rate of fatalities came in the 45-54 age group, representing 48 of the 175 victims. The second-highest age group is 55-64, with 39 victims. The two groups represent about half of the recorded fatalities over the seven-year period. · Myth: All those who die in motorcycle crashes are doing something wrong at the time of the incident. · Fact: Between 2008-14, for 50 of the 175 motorcycle victims, the driver of the motorcycle was driving properly at the time. Far too often, the actions of another driver are a causal factor in motorcycle crashes. Motorcycles are much harder to see than other vehicles. As a rider, it is important to wear high-visibility equipment and put yourself in the proper lane positioning to increase your chances of being seen by other motorists. As a motorist sharing the road with motorcyclists, you need to maintain a keen awareness of your surroundings and always be looking for motorcycles, especially in blind spots before changing lanes. · Myth: Motorcyclists are at far greater risk of crashing when riding on wet roads. · Fact: While true that riding on wet roads places an additional risk on riders, 158 of the 175 motorcyclists who have died between 2008-14 were riding on dry roads at the time. While motorcyclists certainly have a responsibility to ride safe, with their obvious vulnerability in collisions with cars and trucks, the rest of us need to be watching out for them in order to help prevent further tragedies. Editorial R A I S I N G T H E F L A G F O R "Connected to your Community" T E R R Y 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 102 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production Town Hall raised a ag Monday in recognition of the upcoming Oakville Terry Fox Run on Sept. 14 at Coronation Park. From left, run organizers and supporters, Sam Rawdah, councillors Max Khan, Roger Lapworth, and Ralph Robinson, Mayor Rob Burton, councillors Tom Adams and Cathy Duddeck, Nathalie deCaen, Janet Balfour, and Councillor Pam Damoff. In front, from left, are Adams' son Samuel and Balfour's daughter Teigan. | submitted photo SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Resident pays it forward after encounter with Good Samaritan On Monday, Aug. 25, I had occasion to do some shopping at a mall in Oakville and I had both a very unpleasant and a pleasant experience: A walkway has some very uneven stonework -- some stones higher than others, which can make for treacherous walking. I tripped on one of these raised stones and fell very heavily on my side, scraping my leg badly. The only thing that saved me from injuring myself seriously was two bags of groceries I was carrying with my left arm. I lay there for a few moments and, apart from one worker who came over to ask me if I was alright, not one person came to my aid. It was lunch time and there were a lot of people passing by, but not concerned enough to help me. I got up and proceeded to the Buck or Two Letter to the Editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member whereby the young lady who worked in the store rushed over to see if I was hurt. She then proceeded to get some water and a Kleenex, and cleaned the blood from my leg and gave me two Band-Aids. She was so kind and concerned and as I believe in paying it forward, I got in touch with her manager and related how kind this young lady (Alexandra) had been. The manager will give her a commendation, which I feel she deserves and more. It is a really sad world when people can walk by someone who has just fallen and pay no attention whatsoever. My praise can not make up for the kindness of Alexandra. I hope you will be able to print this and that she will see it and know that I do not take her actions for granted. Corey Campbell, Oakville Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. 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