(Bakersfield, California)Motorcycle safety enforcement operation scheduled for Saturday

OFF THE WIRE
bakersfield.com

Bakersfield, California - The Bakersfield Police Department will conduct a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation Saturday in an effort to continue a two-year trend of declining motorcycle fatalities in California, a BPD news release said.
Extra officers will patrol areas frequented by motorcyclists and in areas where crashes occur more often, the news release said. Officers will be looking for drivers or riders who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and will be cracking down on traffic violations by car drivers as well as bikers that can lead to motorcycle collisions.
California collision data shows that primary causes of motorcycle-related crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and driving under the influence, the release said.
Another factor contributing to motorcycle injuries and fatalities is a prevalance of improperly licensed drivers, which the enforcement operation also aims to combat, according to the release.
The enforcement program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.