Drivers Warned To Watch Out For Motorcycles

As the weather gets warmer - hopefully - Berlin Police and Fire officials are warning drivers to pay more attention to the road and less attention to their phones and other distractions. It is this time of year that more and more motorcycles will hit the street.

"I see a spike in accidents twice a year," Berlin Fire Dept. Chief Jim Simons said. "Between Thanksgiving and Christmas and right around Memorial Day like we are now are the two big spikes.

"I think we have one between Thanksgiving and Christmas because people are racing around and worried about so many things that they aren't paying attention when they are driving. And around this time of year, the motorcycles come out and people aren't used to looking for them."

Berlin Traffic Officer Robert Cantu said this is a difficult time for both car operators and motorcycle riders.

"The people riding motorcycles are pulling them out and they aren't completely used to them because they haven't ridden one all winter," Cantu said. "And the drivers aren't used to looking for them yet. By the time summer comes, everyone knows the motorcycles are out there so it's no big deal but there is a transition period.

Cantu said there are certain precautions people in cars can take to stay away from an accident with a motorcycle.

"A big problem right now is there is still a good amount of sand on the roads," he said. "Peoiple think a motorcycle can stop on a dime if you jump out in front of it but if the motorcycle hits a patch of sand, it's not stopping.

"People need to be a little more leery at this time of year to watch out for motorcycles. If you're thinking about running that yellow light and jumping out in front of someone, maybe re-think that. There are also a lot of other things to look at this time of year. There are more pedestrians out walking. They have been cooped up in the house all winter and they want to get out. They are walking their dogs and pushing strollers. Drivers need to slow down especially in residential areas."

Cantu also said he would not be surpised to see more and more motorcycles on the roads because of the price of gas. Motorcycles can travel much further on a tank of gas than a car so it offers an economic value as well as a recreational one.

Simons said his department prepares for a different kind of emergency when a motorcycle accident happens.

"The guys cruising on Harleys and Hondas are not the ones who usually get in accidents, it is more the Japanese racing bikes," he said. "The people riding those bikes lay them down a lot and often injure their extremities. We see a lot of arm and legs injuries with motorcycles accidents. Most of the people who ride the racing bikes wear helmets though where the Harley guys don't.

"We just gear up our trauma training so that we are ready for those types of injuries. We always want to make sure we are ready for anything."