There has been a 50 per cent spike in the number of people killed in motorcycle crashes last year in British Columbia.

Fifty one motorcyclists were killed in 2018, the most in a calendar year in the last decade.

That’s up from 34 people who died in each of the two previous years, and Coroners spokesperson Andy Watson says that sharp an increase is concerning.

“We’ve already heard anecdotal evidence of other motorcycle involved deaths through 2019,” he said. “Obviously, it’s premature for us to release that data until investigations are complete, but certainly it shows that there is a higher risk there for those that are on motorcycles.”

Prior to last year, 2009 had the highest number of motorcycle fatalities in a calendar year at 48.

As we head into summer, Watson is urging drivers to give motorcyclists space on the roads to help reduce the number of fatalities.

“Give them the space that they need, and if you are a motorcyclist, you know, adhere to the tips that you get in your driver training in terms of giving yourself space and not weaving in and out of traffic and those sorts of things,” Watson said.

In all, the Coroners say 314 people were killed on BC highways in 2018, an increase from the 299 in 2017, but still below the ten year average at 326.

(Photo via Pixabay)