OFF THE WIRE
http://longbeach-ca.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/police-to-increase-officers-on-duty-on-sunday
Police to Increase Officers on Duty on Sunday
by Hoa Quách (Editor), July 10, 2013 at 11:10 am
The following is a press release from the The Long Beach Police
Department: The Long Beach Police Department will be conducting a specialized
Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on July 14, 2013 in an effort to lower
deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented
by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. Officers will be looking
for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle
crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and
motorcycles who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making
illegal turns, or any other dangerous violation.
Motorcycle fatalities saw a phenomenal drop of 37 percent from
2008 to 2010, but rose nearly 18 percent in 2011. Operations like this are aimed
at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back
downward.
In 2011, five motorcyclists were killed in the City of Long
Beach and 89 motorcyclists were injured. In 2012, six motorcyclists were killed
and the number of motorcyclists injured increased to 99. The main causes of
these collisions were unsafe speed and unsafe turning maneuvers.
California collision data reveals that primary causes of
motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due
to alcohol and other drugs. The Long Beach Police Department is also reminding
all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when
turning and changing lanes.
As the economy turns upward, there will likely be more miles
driven by all vehicles, plus more novice motorcycle riders who are untrained and
unable to handle the power of today’s motorcycles. The message to all drivers
and motorcyclists is: share in the responsibility and do your part by safely
“sharing the road.” Riders 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
Administration.
