Kane County Coroner urges motorcycle safety during Awareness Month

Kane County Coroner Monica Silva believes part of her mission as coroner is to help identify risk factors that may prevent any loss of life. “May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and, with the beautiful weather we are enjoying in our area, there will be many motorcyclists on Illinois roadways,” Silva said.

2023 IDOT statistics reveal that, while only 1.1% of all motor vehicle crashes involved motorcycles, motorcycle fatalities disproportionally accounted for 13.5% of all fatalities.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, most motorcycle fatalities occur in daylight, in urban areas, and predominantly during clear or slightly cloudy conditions.

Nearly half of motorcycle fatalities reportedly occur during the weekends versus weekdays.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents are thought to be: distracted driving, alcohol impairment, illegal lane changes, blind spots, and speeding.

“In Kane County, we suffered the loss of three male motorcyclists in the month of July 2025, alone,” Silva said. “We are asking all motorcyclists to consider wearing personal protective gear and to include high visibility clothing and eye protection. Equally important is for motorcyclists to receive specific training and education so they may be able to enjoy motorcycling as safely as possible.

“Since 2025, 71% of motorcycle fatalities in Kane County have involved other vehicles,” Silva continued. “We urge all drivers and motorcyclists to pay attention to fellow travelers this month and every day.”

Training and educational resources include:

• The nonprofit Motorcycle Safety Foundation (msf-usa.org) offers online and in-person education and training

• The Illinois Cycle Rider Safety Training Program through the Illinois Department of Transportation (idot.illinois.gov)

• Local motorcycle dealerships and racetracks