CA: Police to conduct motorcycle safety enforcement operation

CA: Police to coPolice to conduct motorcycle safety enforcement operation THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN |
Bakersfield police, noting that high-performance "Super Sport" motorcycles are popular with young people but are involved in almost triple their share of fatal crashes, will conduct a safety enforcement operation Saturday.
Extra patrols will look for traffic violations made by all types of vehicles in areas where motorcycles frequently travel and where crashes occur, police said.
Police said the "Super Sport" motorcycles, styled for racing, make up 14 percent of the registered motorcycles in California, but they represent 37 percent of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes.
Such motorcycles are more likely to be crashed in the first year of use than all other types of motorcycles, police said.
Riders under 25 years old are less likely to be properly licensed (60 percent compared to 37 percent overall), an indication that many young riders lack the experience and skills necessary to safely operate such fast, high-horsepower machines, police said.
Fatalities in motorcycle crashes in California increased 103 percent from 276 in 2000 to 560 in 2008, police said.
Police advised new riders to buy a bike that is appropriate for their skill and experience, to be properly licensed and to obtain professional training on the risks involved in motorcycling.
Riders can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, and information is available at www.CA-msp.org or 1-877 RIDE 411 or 1-877-743-3411.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. nduct motorcycle safety enforcement operation

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