CA- Riverside PD/ mc enforcement Sept. 4

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.riversideca.gov/rpd/press/090310mc.pdf
Friday, September 3, 2010

Sergeant Dwayne May

(951) 353-7991 dmay@riversideca.gov

Riverside Police Department Enforcement Campaign Targeting Motorcycle

Safety
Police to increase enforcement aimed at dangerous riders and careless
Motorists
The Riverside Police Department will be conducting a specialized

Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on September 4, 2010. Extra

Officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists

And where crashes occur. Officers will be cracking down on traffic

Violations made by motorcyclists as well as other vehicle drivers that

Can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries and fatalities.
Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing

175 percent in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in

2008. Riverside County is not immune to motorcycle fatalities! In a five

Year span from 2004 to 2008, Riverside County accrued a total of 142

Fatalities and 2,520 injuries from motorcycle crashes.
Factors contributing to motorcycle crashes very often include speeding
And impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by motorcyclists. The
Riverside Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be
Alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and
Changing lanes.
Another major factor leading to motorcycle crashes is inexperience. Many
People are riding motorcycles without the proper motorcycle license
Endorsement and without the skills necessary to ride safely. In 2008,
37% of motorcycle operators killed were not properly licensed. Improper
Licensing is a greater problem among younger riders, where 63% of the
16-24 year old operators killed were not properly licensed. Riders,
Young and old, are encouraged to seek training and safety information.
Rider's can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety
Program. Information and training locations are 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