YORKTON — Following a series of fatal motorcycle crashes across Saskatchewan in recent weeks, RCMP are reminding both riders and motorists to stay alert and share the road safely.
At least three fatal motorcycle collisions have been reported in the province since mid-July.
While motorcycle riders are often reminded to drive defensively, Sgt. Grant St. Germaine said many serious crashes occur because other motorists fail to notice motorcycles on the road.
"This is not them being an issue on the roads as far as doing things," St. Germaine said of motorcycle riders. "It's the fact that the drivers of the cars get conditioned to look for those two headlights coming down the road."
Unlike most vehicles, motorcycles typically have a single headlight, making them easier for drivers to overlook, he said.
"A motorcycle coming, although it's still big enough and it's still a single headlight on there, it just seems to get lost," said St. Germaine.
Police frequently hear the same explanation following motorcycle collisions, he added.
"The answer that we get from the drivers," says St. Germaine, “I just missed it."
The reminder comes after Battlefords RCMP began investigating a fatal collision involving two motorcycles on Highway 40 near Battleford on July 11. EMS and local firefighters also responded to the scene.
Five days later, on July 16, a collision between a car and a motorcycle on Highway 219 near Outlook resulted in the deaths of a 57-year-old Saskatoon man and a 99-year-old passenger from Outlook. Both were declared dead at the scene.
A third fatal motorcycle crash occurred near Yorkton on July 25.
St. Germaine said motorcyclists face greater risks than occupants of passenger vehicles because they lack many of the protective features found in cars and trucks.
"If you get forced off the road by another driver and you're into the ditch, you're now on that motorcycle, you're going to come off," he said. "You don't have the same safety factors that an automobile or truck would have."
While road conditions such as gravel or loose surfaces can occasionally contribute to collisions, St. Germaine said they are not major factors in most motorcycle crashes attended by police.
Instead, he encouraged motorists to take extra time when approaching intersections, turning onto highways or changing lanes to ensure motorcycles are not overlooked.
For riders, he said the reality is that defensive driving remains essential.
As Saskatchewan's riding season continues, RCMP are urging all road users to remain vigilant, watch for motorcycles and remember that even a brief lapse in attention can have deadly consequences.
