Safety courses encouraged for motorcyclists as peak riding weather nears

Rhonda Diercks knows firsthand the importance of motorcycle safety.

In 2020, another motorcyclist collided with her while she was riding her motorcycle, causing her to lose a leg.

Now, she stresses the importance of safe riding to her students and instructors as facilitator of a state-approved motorcycle safety class held at the Pittsburgh Mills mall complex in Frazer.

“We need to teach people how to ride safely and responsibly,” she said. “We encourage people to continue education and learning.”

With a rash of motorcycle crashes and fatalities this spring in the region, officials are reiterating the importance of safe driving for motorists.

Since April, at least eight fatalities involving motorcycles have been recorded, including two in North Versailles on Sunday.

The first happened around 4 p.m. at Westinghouse and 5th avenues, police said. The motorcycle was driven by a man who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

The second happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. at Lincoln Highway and Clyde Avenue, police said. As in the first crash, the man driving the motorcycle was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Annual motorcyclist fatalities reached a 20-year high in 2023 at 238, an increase from 217 in 2022, according to PennDOT.

Crashes involving motorcycles are more likely to result in death or serious injury, state police spokesman Myles Snyder said.

While motorcycle crashes accounted for 2% of all crashes investigated by the state police last year, motorcycles were involved in 19% of crash fatalities to which troopers responded, Snyder said.

And, as spring rolls into summer, more motorcyclists will be on the roads. It’s no coincidence May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month.

Motorcycle safety training is free in Pennsylvania, and there are 59 motorcycle safety training locations across the state, Diercks said.

Riders can register at pamsp.com.

More than 40% of motorcycle crashes occur at intersections, said Sonja Mauk, spokeswoman for the state’s Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) organization. The most common accidents between cars and motorcycles occur when the vehicle driver at an intersection is making a left turn in front of a motorcycle, she said.

Police say that’s what happened in one of Sunday’s fatal crashes, when the driver of a van was making a left turn and the van was struck by a motorcycle.

Other situations where crashes are likely to occur include when a motorcyclist is riding alongside a car and is out of view of the driver. A collision can occur when the vehicle driver changes lanes, there are hazardous road or weather conditions or either motorist is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Mauk said.

“Ensuring motorcycle and road safety in Pennsylvania requires a collaborative effort from all road users,” Mauk said. “By prioritizing awareness, caution and respect for one another, we can create a safer environment for motorcyclists and drivers alike. Together, we can enjoy the freedom of the open road while minimizing the risks inherent in motorcycle riding.”

Motorcycle safety training courses, like the one at Pittsburgh Mills, are available statewide through PennDOT’s motorcycle safety program via third-party contractors approved by PennDOT, Diercks said.

The Pittsburgh Mills site offers four courses throughout the year: beginner, intermediate and advanced clinics, as well as a three-wheel riding clinic, Diercks said.

“PennDOT’s Motorcycle Safety Program is designed to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities on Pennsylvania’s roadways,” said Brandon Glorioso, spokesman for PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services division. “The program seeks to get riders properly licensed to ride a motorcycle, reduce aggressive driving behaviors, avoid drinking and riding and to encourage the use of protective riding gear.”

The beginner clinic, geared toward “the person who’s never ridden a motorcycle before,” consists of classroom instruction and driving experience, Diercks said.

The class provides the bikes. Gear also is provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own so they will use it after the class.

State law requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet unless they are 21 or older and have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two full years or have successfully completed an approved motorcycle safety course, Snyder said.

Passengers must wear helmets if they are younger than 21.

By the end of the class, Diercks said, students should be able to perform specific riding skills, have an understanding of how their bike works and its ability to maintain traction and control and recognize risks on the road and manage them to find a safe solution.

After passing the beginner course’s knowledge and riding tests, students become a licensed rider.

“Successful completion of a PAMSP Basic or Intermediate course waives the requirement to take a skills test at a PennDOT Driver’s License Center and automatically earns the permit holder their motorcycle license,” Glorioso said.

There are nearly 850,000 licensed motorcyclists in the state, according to PennDOT.

Safety courses are beneficial for even the most experienced riders, such as Dave Lynch of Indiana Township, who has been riding motorcycles for more than 20 years.

Despite his experience, Lynch enrolled in a beginner course this spring at the Pittsburgh Mills complex in Frazer.

“I take it every few years,” said Lynch, who took a break from riding about seven years ago but decided to pick it up again last year. “It’s a great class. It reinforces good habits and breaks bad habits.”

While Jess Allera of North Apollo got his motorcycle license three years ago, he enrolled in a spring class with his wife, Beth, a first-time motorcyclist.

“It refreshed the fundamentals,” he said. “It reminds you how you’re supposed to do things.”

Beth said she enjoyed the class.

“It was good for me to learn each individual thing and learn the basics,” she said. “It makes you more comfortable.”

Everyone on the road is responsible for motorcycle safety, Snyder said.

“Motorists must always be on the lookout for motorcyclists, and everyone should use common sense by driving sober, obeying speed limits and allowing enough time to react to dangerous situations,” he said.