ODOT: Motorcycle deaths are way up this year

Motorcycle deaths are at a nine-year high this year as fatal crashes overall are up 2.5 percent.

That’s according to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The uptick in fatalities this year is being communicated to motorists as a safety message via the electronic highway billboards, “Watch for Motorcycles,” and citing the number of traffic fatalities statewide so far this year - 638.

Of the 638 traffic fatalities overall this year, 91 were motorcycle crashes, according to ODOT.

In June alone, there were 43 deaths from 39 motorcycle crashes - the largest monthly total for motorcycle-crash deaths since July 2007 when there were 46, according to ODOT.

Crashes mostly occurred from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday, according to ODOT.

In most of the motorcycle-related deaths, the riders were not wearing helmets, the statistics show.