New data from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shows that motorcycle fatalities hit a 20-year high in 2024, with 57 deaths across the province. The trend has continued into 2025, and naturally this has raised concerns about road safety.
But as Ontario prepares to introduce major insurance changes in July 2026, many in the motorcycle community are asking why the focus seems to be on penalizing riders—even though the majority of motorcycle collisions are actually caused by inattentive four-wheel drivers, not the riders themselves.
The full story behind these changes is far more complex than simply “motorcycles are risky.”
The Human Side: Two Lives Changed Forever
Brian and Debbie Haynes from MacTier, near Georgian Bay, loved exploring the countryside on their motorcycle. It was their freedom, their escape, their lifestyle.
That changed in July when a car struck them while they were out on a ride.
Both Brian and Debbie lost their lower left leg and foot.
Brian recalled waking up after the collision and realizing his foot was gone. Debbie described the emotional challenge of accepting that her leg was no longer there. They spent two months recovering in the hospital, and the journey since has been long and painful.
The only reason they’ve been able to access the therapy and treatment they need is because they happened to have proper insurance coverage — something Brian admits he didn’t fully understand until the moment he needed it.
Their story is tragic, heartbreaking, and deeply human — and it reflects the vulnerability every motorcyclist faces on the road.
So Why Are Riders Being Targeted?
1. Most Motorcycle Accidents Aren’t the Rider’s Fault
Personal injury lawyer Nainesh Kotak confirmed what every rider already knows:
Most motorcycle collisions are caused by inattentive drivers, not motorcyclists.
Yet the solution being rolled out focuses on riders opting in to benefits that used to be standard. Riders — the more vulnerable group — are being asked to pay more to protect themselves from accidents they often didn’t cause.
2. Rising Traffic and Distracted Driving Are Major Factors
Ontario’s roads are more congested than ever. Drivers are more distracted than ever. Phones, digital dashboards, GPS screens, and rush-hour madness all contribute to mistakes that disproportionately harm riders.
When motorcycle accidents go up during a time of rising traffic and distraction, the logical response should be improving driver awareness — not adding financial burdens on motorcyclists.
3. Fraudulent Licenses and System Problems Have Eroded Trust
Over the past few years, reports of scam driver’s licenses and improperly issued credentials have surfaced. These issues affect the integrity of the entire road system, but somehow the consequences always seem to land hardest on riders.
Instead of fixing the structural issues around licensing and driver behavior, the insurance system adjusts premiums and coverage — often targeting the smaller, easier-to-regulate motorcycle community.
4. Riders Are a Small Group — and Small Groups Are Easy to Penalize
Motorcyclists are passionate, responsible, and community-driven — but we’re also a minority on the road. Policy changes that affect a small group face less public resistance.
But small does not mean insignificant. Riders contribute to the economy, reduce congestion, and maintain a tight-knit culture of safety and camaraderie. We deserve fair treatment, not convenient targeting.
The Insurance Changes Coming in 2026
Starting July 2026:
- Benefits that were once mandatory will become optional.
- Motorcycle riders will need to opt in to receive income replacement, attendant care, death benefits, and funeral benefits.
- Riders who don’t read their policy carefully may not have the protection they believe they have.
Kotak warns riders to review their coverage closely, because opting out could leave them financially devastated after a collision. And for riders, the stakes are higher — your injuries are rarely minor.
Honouring Those We Lost
Before talking about insurance, rules, premiums, or reforms, we need to acknowledge the real losses.
Fifty-seven riders died in 2024 — the highest number in twenty years.
Behind each number is someone’s family, someone’s memories, someone’s passion for the open road.
May they rest in peace.
May their families find strength.
And may we, as a community, keep their memories alive by pushing for safer roads and fairer policies.
The Motorcycle Community Deserves Better
Here’s what riders want:
Better driver education
Drivers must be taught how to look for motorcycles, judge our distance and speed, and check blind spots. Most collisions involving bikes could be prevented with better driver awareness.
Transparency from insurers
If changes are coming, riders want to see the real data. How many motorcycle collisions were rider-caused? How many involved distracted drivers? Riders deserve honesty, not assumptions.
Fix the licensing system
Address the fraud, the shortcuts, the scam licenses. Don’t punish the entire motorcycle community for systemic failures.
Collaboration, not punishment
Riders should be part of the conversation. Insurance policies should be shaped with us, not imposed on us.
Closing Thought
Ontario riders are not the problem. We are part of the road system, part of the community, and part of the economy. We ride because it brings us freedom, clarity, connection, and purpose.
We don’t need to be targeted. We need to be understood.
As the insurance landscape shifts once again, let’s make sure our voices are heard — because no one understands motorcycle safety better than the people who live it every day.
Based on an article published: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2025/11/14/new-changes-coming-to-insurance-coverage-for-motorcycles-as-opp-report-increase-in-related-accidents/