Motorcyclist fatalities down in Ohio from 2007

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By JENNY DERRINGER

derringer@crescent-news.com

With an increased number of motorcyclists on the roadway trying to stay one step ahead of the high cost of gasoline, one might expect a rise in motorcycle-related fatalities.

But that doesn't seem to be the case, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. Officials report 107 motorcyclists have been killed statewide in crashes from January to July.

In comparison to the same time period last year, 121 motorcyclists died on roadways (total for all of 2007 was 190).

In the northwest Ohio counties of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam and Williams, only one motorcycle fatality has been reported since January and that was in Williams County.

This is down from four fatal motorcycle-related crashes in 2007 -- one each in Williams, Paulding, Henry and Defiance counties.

Those figures are half what they were in 2006, when eight fatalities were related to motorcycle crashes.

This included one in Williams County, two each in Putnam and Defiance counties and three in Fulton County that year.

Motorcycle usage overall has been increasing over the years. The traffic safety bulletin issued by the Ohio Highway Patrol reported in June that motorcycle registrations have been on the rise. From 2005-07, registrations rose 12 percent statewide.

And, state troopers are keeping a watchful eye out for motorcyclists, issuing 30 percent more citations in 2007 than in 2005.