A motorcycle accident on Interstate 5 north of Salem last Sunday calls attention to what could become a potential issue on the freeway: Motorcyclists driving on the interstate in tight groups of a dozen or more riders rather than as individual vehicles.

In the Sunday wreck, a group of motorcyclists were on an organized ride from the Medford area to a funeral in Portland. Riders joined the group on the way. North of Salem, a new member tried to join. The accident ensued, sending three riders to the hospital.

Motorists may have encountered similar groups before. Typically they travel sedately, scrupulous about observing the speed limit. When there are a lot of them, grouped closely together, all going at the same speed, it's tricky or even impossible to pass them. And pretty soon there's a traffic jam behind them.

The motorcyclists are not doing anything wrong, but riding in a big bunch like that, switching lanes from time to time to pass a truck going 60, they have a tendency to clog the lanes and make other drivers nervous.

But on two-lane sections of the freeway, motorcyclists traveling together might want to do themselves and the rest of the drivers a favor by spreading out more. Perhaps they could drive in pairs instead. (hh)