More motorcyclists have been killed on Bayview Avenue near Bloor Street East than any other location in Toronto.
The area surrounding that intersection has seen six fatal collisions since 1995, most of them on the twisting series of ramps on and off of the Don Valley Parkway at Bayview. The area near the South Kingsway and Lakeshore Blvd. West is also dangerous for motorcyclists, with four fatalities in that same time period.
Global News analyzed Toronto Police Traffic Services records of fatal motorcycle accidents from May 1st, 1995 to May 31, 2011. There were a total of 45 accidents in that period. Of these, the motorcycle rider was at fault in 29 cases, almost always because of excessive speed. These statistics do not include fatal accidents on 400-series highways, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Bayview Avenue is a popular drive for motorcyclists, said Constable Hugh Smith with Toronto Police Traffic Services. He said that the nature of the road: winding, scenic and often low-traffic, encourages riders to relax. “We feel like we can increase the speed like we’re out in the country without as much to worry about. And when you get into the mindset of freedom of the road, it increases that risk factor,” he said. All fatal accidents in this area since 1995 have been at least partly due to excessive speed.
The on and off ramps of the Don Valley Parkway in that area provide their own challenges, and riders often lose control because they are driving too quickly for the turns. “They think that they’re invincible when they go into that, and think that there are no other cars coming in,” said Marlene Steele, president of the Zen Riders motorcycle club.
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Const. Smith spent years as a police motorcycle instructor and would often take his trainee officers from busy downtown streets onto Bayview Ave. as a test, to see whether they would relax their vigilance. “We do these transitions through because motorcyclists are affected more by their environment than other vehicles,” he said. “They tend to overdo it for the area that they’re in based on what they’re feeling and seeing.
“We have a rule in motorcycle training: The day you throw caution to the wind is the day you go down.”
The second most dangerous area for motorcyclists, the South Kingsway where it meets Lakeshore Blvd. is a similar drive to Bayview Ave., said Const. Smith. Riders relax on the pleasant road and lose control or stop paying attention to their surroundings.
June is the worst month for motorcycle fatalities, just as the weather is pleasant enough to get back on the road. “When you put your bikes away, you also forget some of the maneuvers and out in the springtime you think I can handle this roadway and all the salt and sand,” said Steele. Her club hosts driving refresher courses every spring to make sure their riders are safe.
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In all 45 motorcycle fatalities since 1995, the driver was male. Motorcycling is a male-dominated sport, but Steele believes that women make safer drivers than men. “We tend to be a little more cautious on everything,” she said. “Maybe we want to keep the species up and running versus knocking yourself out.”
Both Steele and Const. Smith stress the importance of staying alert while driving. “People say, you never relax, how can you enjoy the ride?” said Const. Smith. “I say, I enjoy the ride knowing that I’m always thinking and always looking, because I want to ride for a long period of time.”
Steele also wishes that other vehicles were more aware of motorcycles. “We’re out there on the road. Look twice, look three times if you have to out of the corner of your eye quickly. Give us some space as we ride on the road,” she said. Allowing motorcycles to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on highways would keep them even safer, she said.
Note: Story edited to add more information about DVP on and off-ramps 03/06/11
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