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Over the past two months, roadways in the Mahoning Valley have fast become concrete killing fields for motorcyclists.
The proof is in the data: Since August no fewer than six individuals have lost their lives while riding motorcycles in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
The fatalities included a 64-year-old Salem man traversing state Route 45 in Lordstown, a 42-year-old Cortland woman who struck horses along state Route 46 in Bazetta, an 18-year-old Youngstown man struck by a vehicle turning into an East Side apartment complex and a 61-year-old Lisbon man hit by a turning Nissan automobile on state Route 45 in Columbiana County.
According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mahoning County has recorded twice as many motorcycle fatalities so far this year than in all of 2025.
In Trumbull County, about 30 percent of this year's 16 traffic fatalities have been motorcyclists even though such vehicles represent less than 1% of all vehicle miles traveled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Those grim statistics prove that motorcyclists who enjoy the freedom and thrill of open-air riding also must live with its inherent dangers.
Those dangers are stark. According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of an enclosed vehicle. And though motorcycles comprise roughly only 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States, they account for more than 16% of all motor-vehicle crashes.
In most motorcycle crashes, the onus of blame rests squarely on operators of passenger vehicles. According to the NHTSA, in 7 out of 10 crashes in the United States, the other driver is at fault for ignoring the legitimate right-of-way of the motorcyclist.
In addition, motorcyclists or drivers of e-bikes, scooters of ATVs on roads are at an inherent disadvantage as they lack the standard protection of a solid outer frame to cushion the blow of collisions.
To be sure, however, motorcycle safety must be considered a shared responsibility. Cyclists need to wear high-visibility gear and secure headgear, use lane positions strategically and anticipate hazards while passenger vehicle motorists must actively check blind spots and mirrors while maintaining a strong and singular focus on the road.
Those drivers also must pay particularly close attention at intersections. According to the NHTSA, some 35% of all fatal cycle accidents happen at intersections. The high frequency of crashes there is largely due to reduced visibility and drivers misjudging distances.
That's why the 12-second rule should be a priority commandment for both motorcyclists and car, SUV and truck drivers.
That rule is a visual scanning technique taught in courses by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Specifically, it directs cycle riders to keep their eyes scanning the road 12 seconds ahead of their current location. That's been proven to be sufficient time to eyeball hazards, process any possible challenges and react to them calmly and smoothly.
Meanwhile, the surge in motorcycle crashes throughout Ohio has caught the attention of the Ohio Legislature. Lawmakers there are considering House Bill 776, introduced this year by Rep. Brian Lorenz. It intends to lessen dangerous lane filtering or weaving by cyclists by enacting restrictions and a ban on high-speed weaving.
Lawmakers also are wisely considering House Bill 948, sponsored by state Reps. Andrea White and Kevin Miller. It would mandate statewide public awareness campaigns and testing regarding sharing roads with alternative motorized vehicles. Given the recent documented surge in e-bike and motorized scooter crashes and injuries throughout the state, such education clearly appears warranted.
The bottom line, however, toward ensuring safe travels for riders on motorcycles, e-bikes, scooters, ATVs or other alternative vehicles rests squarely on the personal responsibility of all drivers who navigate our potentially treacherous roads and byways.
For those on cycles and passenger vehicles alike, that means wearing protective gear, following all traffic laws, staying completely sober, avoiding any distractions and ensuring high visibility. Religiously following such protocols can go a long way toward putting in reverse this state's disturbing trend of heightened traffic carnage.