Nova Scotia is facing its deadliest year for motorcyclists in a decade, with 16 riders killed in crashes across the province in 2025 — and advocates are demanding urgent change.
The victims include a teenage hockey player, a retiree, and even a couple who had shared 40 years of marriage. They were fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, neighbours and friends — ordinary Nova Scotians whose lives were cut short on the road.
Marlene Roach, founder of the Bikers Down Society, says the numbers are unacceptable. “It’s only getting worse and worse,” she stressed. “The government’s got to step in. They’ve got to do something.”
Roach is calling for mandatory training programs before drivers can obtain a motorcycle licence, restrictions on powerful bikes for younger riders, and greater accountability from all motorists. “If you get in an accident, it’s not the cars … you’re the one that’s going to get injured or killed. There’s no second chance most of the time.”
She also urged drivers to be more vigilant, particularly when turning left at intersections. “Look twice, save a life,” Roach emphasized.
RCMP collision expert Corey Ford echoed the urgency, noting most deaths are preventable and often linked to distracted, impaired, or aggressive driving, along with failure to use helmets or other safety measures.
“Unlike in a car, where you just jam on your brakes and hope for the best, a motorcycle requires skill and quick decision-making,” Ford explained. He stressed the importance of riders brushing up on braking and crash-avoidance techniques.
While a year with no fatalities may be unrealistic, Ford insists everyone — drivers and riders alike — has a role to play. “You don’t know what other motorists are doing. So if that means staying out of blind spots, paying attention, and being courteous, then that’s what we need to do. Everybody needs to share the road.”
The tragic toll of 2025 has sparked renewed calls for reforms, leaving many to wonder how many more lives must be lost before stronger action is taken.
