Barrie Police are reminding motorists to stay alert and share the road as warmer weather brings more motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians onto local streets.
The reminder follows two serious motorcycle collisions last week in which police say the riders were not at fault.
The most recent collision occurred on Tuesday, June 2nd at around 3:20 p.m. in the area of Cundles Road East and Livingstone Street East. Police say a motorcycle and SUV were involved in the crash, leaving a 19-year-old male motorcyclist with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to hospital for treatment. The intersection was closed for the investigation and cleanup before reopening shortly after 5:00 p.m. A 45-year-old woman has been charged with failing to make a safe turn.
That incident came one day after a similar collision on Harvie Road near Bryne Drive. In this case, a motorcyclist suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a collision with a passenger vehicle. A woman in her 70s has also been charged with failing to make a safe turn.
Police noted that motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable because they do not have the protection offered by a vehicle’s steel frame, seatbelts and airbags.
Barrie Police are urging drivers to take extra time before proceeding through intersections or making turns, carefully checking for smaller road users who can be more difficult to see. Officers are also encouraging cyclists and motorcyclists to remain visible and ride according to road conditions, while reminding pedestrians to obey traffic signals, avoid distractions and use designated crosswalks whenever possible.
Road safety is a shared responsibility and that awareness, patience and attention can help prevent serious collisions.
