MARION, Ill. (WSIL) -- As the riding season shifts into high gear safety should be everyone's top priority.
An owner with Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion provided News 3 with some tips on how we can keep all drivers, including motorcyclists safe this summer.
As the weather gets warmer expect to see more motorcycles out on the open road. Shad Zimbro from Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion is asking all drivers to be careful.
"Start seeing motorcycles, that's the most important thing. Stay off cellphones and start paying attention to motorcycles, there are a lot more motorcycles on the road than there were ten years ago," said Zimbro.
ISP and IDOT said motorcycles spend less time on the road, but they makeup, 15% of all traffic fatalities. Zimbro says that could be because motorcycles can have a harder time shutting down.
"They think that they can pull out in front of that a little bit easier than they could a car when they see a car coming. They still need to realize that it takes a lot to slow a motorcycle down also," said Zimbro.
Zimbro said gear with protective armor in it, like this jacket, is just one of the ways you can help protect yourself.
He also said the Harley Davidson brand is also doing its best to protect riders too.
They've created lots of new safety equipment like anti-lock brakes and flashing pulsating tail lights.
ISP, IDOT, and Zimbro can all agree, just being a little bit more aware can make it safer for everyone on the road.
