(MUNICIPALITY OF WEST PERTH, ON) On Thursday May 08, 2014, shortly after 11 p.m. Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were called to a collision at the intersection of Wellington St and Frank St in Mitchell.
Investigation revealed that a Pontiac sedan had been travelling south bound on Wellington St when it turned east on Frank St. directly in front of a Kawasaki motorcycle that was travelling west bound on Frank St. The motorcyclist attempted to stop and avoid colliding with the car but was unable to do so. The motorcycle struck the front drivers side of the Pontiac. The 19 year old male motorcyclist, a resident of the Municipality of West Perth was thrown to the ground but did not sustain injuries.
The 19 year old female driver of the Pontiac, a Stratford resident was also uninjured. She has been charged with “left turn – fail to afford reasonable opportunity to avoid collisionâ€Â.
Motorists are urged to watch for motorcycles at intersections as over one third of motorcycle collisions are intersection related. At stop sign controlled intersections, consciously STOP & LOOK for traffic on the through highway. Motorcycles are more difficult to see than other vehicles since their profile is smaller from most angles. A motorcycles speed and distance is also easier to misjudge, therefore give them space and do not take chances. Make sure you don’t pull out in front of or cut off a motorcycle, they are just as entitled to use the road as you are.
Motorcyclists are reminded that they are usually one of the smallest vehicles on the road and you are more likely to be injured or killed if you are involved in a collision. Make sure you are seen, you cannot assume that other drivers see you. Drivers who have collided with motorcycles often say they did not see the motorcycle until it was too late.