The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds drivers of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol wants to remind motorcyclists to ride trained and sober.

Warmer weather leads to an increase in motorcyclists on the road, and the OSHP wants other drivers to be aware of their surroundings.

Look for motorcyclists on the highway, at intersections and any time you are changing lanes.

Give motorcyclists a full lane of travel.

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Allow plenty of space in front of the vehicle you are driving and do not follow a motorcycle too close.

According to a press release, in 2017, 155 fatal crashes involved motorcycles, a 20 percent decrease from 2016.

Another 3,409 crashes resulted in injuries.

Only 29 percent of the motorcyclists killed in crashes were wearing helmets.

Ohio law requires helmets for riders under 18 and drivers with less than one year of motorcycle experience.

Passengers on motorcycles must also wear helmets when the driver is required to do so.

The OSHP says motorcyclists can help better protect themselves and others from injury or death by taking a training class and wearing safety equipment.

A total of 1,949 citations were issued to motorcyclists last year, 20 percent for operating a motorcycle without a proper license.

Last year, 35 percent of the fatal crashes involving motorcycles were alcohol and/or drug related.

For more information on motorcycle safety, visit www.motorcycle.ohio.gov.

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