Thursday, June 5, 2014

CA - Long Beach Police to enforce motorcycle safety this weekend, June 7 and 8

OFF THE WIRE
The Long Beach Police Department will conduct a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on June 7 and June 8, 2014, in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Extra officers will patrol areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occurred. Officers will look for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both passenger vehicle and motorcycle operators who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, or making illegal turns or other dangerous violations.
Motorcycle fatalities statewide saw a phenomenal drop of 37% from 2008 to 2010, but then rose 23% by 2012. Operations like this are aimed at curbing increases in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward.
In the City of Long Beach, there were 295 motorcyclists injured and 18 motorcycle fatalities during a three-year period spanning from January 2011 to December 2013.
California collision data revealed that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning, and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs. The Long Beach Police Department reminds all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes. Drivers should be aware that motorcycle lane splitting is not illegal if done in a safe and prudent manner. Motorcycle riders should consult the Lane Splitting General Guidelines to learn more at www.ots.ca.gov/lanesplittinggeneralguidelines.pdf [1].
Training for riders is available through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. For Information and training locations visit www.CA-msp.org [2] or call 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. The message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: Share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”
The article above was released by the Long Beach Police Department.
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Article printed from Orange County Breeze: http://www.oc-breeze.com

URL to article: http://www.oc-breeze.com/2014/06/05/53306_long-beach-police-to-enforce-motorcycle-safety-this-weekend-june-7-and-8/