SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — As the weather warms, Washington State Patrol is ready to see more motorcycles on the open road and to crack down on reckless driving.
Since January, two motorcyclists have already died in crashes in Spokane County.
WSP is on a mission to keep the roads safe and prevent any more motorcycle-related deaths.
“There’s always that thrill in the speed and being invincible when you’re young. But, the problem is our bodies cannot take those kinds of collisions,” said WSP Sergeant Greg Riddell.
There has been an uptick in reports of motorcycle street racing in North Spokane, with some riders reportedly exceeding 100 miles per hour.
This trend threatens WSP’s long-term mission of ensuring every rider returns home safely.
“Something drastic is going to happen, you may get away with it multiple times, but something is going to catch up. Either you’re going to get in a collision, or you’re going to get caught by us,” Riddell said.
In addition to increased patrols on the roads, WSP will be using its aircraft, “Smokey” to monitor the roads from above and help police on the ground track reckless driving.
Sergeant Riddell said if you get caught driving your motorcycle recklessly, it could result in your bike being impounded, and maybe even time spent in jail.
Despite the focus on dangerous riders, most motorcyclists are responsible on the roads.
Nick Hayes lives in Spokane County and has been riding his motorcycle for five years.
“I’ve been around people who have had some accidents. I’ve been with people who haven’t been able to walk away from it, and I’ve been with people who have,” Hayes said.
For Hayes, motorcycle riding is a family tradition where safety takes priority.
He wears protective gear including padded clothing with leather reinforcements for slide protection, full gloves and leg and foot protection.
He also sports a bright helmet and multi-colored gear to make sure other drivers see him.
Hayes rides defensively, assuming drivers don’t see him as a precaution. His message to drivers is simple: look twice and give motorcycles adequate space.
“Not every rider is as experienced as somebody else, and sometimes motorcycles need that extra space. Even if they don’t take up a full lane, they should still be allotted the same space as a car,” Hayes said.
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