OFF THE WIRE
http://www.10news.com/news/29264560/detail.html
Oceanside Police To Focus On Motorcycle Safety
Expect Intensified Traffic Enforcement Through Weekend
POSTED: 5:07 am PDT September 22, 2011
OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- In an effort to cut down on motorcycle crashes in Oceanside, the city's police department will focus intensified traffic enforcement Thursday through Saturday in neighborhoods where they most frequently occur.
"Officers will be looking for drivers and riders who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cracking down on traffic violations ... that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries and fatalities," OPD Lt. Leonard Mata said.
California road-accident data reveal that the primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes in the state include speeding, unsafe turns and intoxication, the lieutenant said.
"The Oceanside Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes," he said.
Until two years ago, motorcycle fatalities had been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent between 1998 and 2008, according to Mata.áIn 2009, however, the state experienced a 29.6 percent reduction, and preliminary 2010 numbers indicate another 10 percent drop, he said.
Some of the improvement can be attributed to a reduction in the number of improperly licensed riders, Mata added.
Training courses in accident-free riding practices are available through the state Motorcyclist Safety Program, which can be reached at 877-743-3411.
