South Bruce OPP urge motorists to be aware of motorcyclists; and everyone beware of bears

MOTORISTS BE AWARE OF MOTORCYCLISTS
 
(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) - With warmer weather returning to Southern Bruce County, the South Bruce OPP expects to see motorcycle enthusiasts taking advantage of it. 

All drivers must share the roadway and drive courteously to avoid potentially-dangerous incidents. The following tips are offered to help you avoid being involved in a collision with a motorcycle:
 

• Be sure that you are safe to proceed before doing so; check your mirrors and all around your car
• Over one-third of all crashes with motorcycles are intersection-related; slow down as you come to an intersection and look carefully for traffic, traffic control signals, cyclists, pedestrians
• Be extra cautious when turning left in front of a motorcycle; it's difficult to judge their speed and the turn signal may unintentionally be on as some models don't shut off automatically
• Watch for signs, such as shoulder checking or leaning, that indicate the rider is going to change lanes
• A motorcycle is more difficult to see than other vehicles and its profile is smaller from most angles
• Drivers can easily misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance
• Make sure you don't pull out in front of, or cut off, a motorcycle
• Speed and other aggressive tactics, such as tailgating, can be more dangerous to the motorcyclist who has less protection on a smaller open vehicle
• Give other drivers space to change lanes, avoid cutting them off, signal your turns and lane changes properly

 
Respect motorcycle riders; they are just as entitled to use the road as you are. Aggressive or unsafe drivers need to be reported to police.
 
BE BEAR-WISE AS WARM WEATHER ARRIVES

(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) - The South Bruce OPP is reminding residents to take simple precautions this spring to prevent attracting black bears as they come out of hibernation. The hungry bears will be seeking sources of food that can include garbage and bird feed, which can draw bears to populated areas.
 
Follow these instructions to minimize the chances of attracting bears:
 

• Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Put out garbage only on the morning of pick-up.
• Put away bird feeders; seed, suet and nectar attract bears.
• Pick fruits and berries as they ripen; don't let them rot on the ground.
• Clean outdoor barbecue grills after each use, including the grease trap underneath; bears will be drawn by smells from great distances, including grease and food residue on grills. 
• Keep dogs on leash; sometimes bears will follow off-leash dogs back to you.

If a bear is posing an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911 or your local police. The police may request support from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to respond to emergency situations, on a case-by-case basis.
 
For non-emergencies, the ministry operates the toll-free, 24/7 Bear Reporting Line (1-866-514-2327) and the Bear Wise website to provide the public with information and advice.
 
Quick Facts:
 

• Bears will remember their last source of food and return there when hungry, sometimes travelling more than 100 kilometres.
• Since 2004, Ontario’s Bear Wise program has been educating people about bears, how to avoid attracting bears and how to prevent human-bear conflicts.
• The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the OPP have agreed on the roles and responsibilities for both organizations to help the public understand which organization to contact when they encounter a bear.