Four years after the California Highway Patrol received funding to increase patrol positions, preliminary numbers show that about 700 fewer people have died on the state's highways and unincorporated areas, according to CHP statistics.
To date, 540 new officers have been hired and are actively patrolling throughout the state.
The economic savings as a result are estimated at more than $3 billion, using statistics from the National Safety Council that approximates the average cost of fatal and nonfatal injuries from motor vehicle crashes. As a result of the projected lower fatalities, the mileage death rate -- a standard measurement of traffic safety that translates into the number of persons killed per 1 million miles of travel -- is anticipated to reach its lowest level in history for 2009.
For the first time in the department's 80-year history, all 103 field offices are now staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14908372
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thunder Beach motorcycle rally rolls into town
Off the Wire
News
PANAMA CITY BEACH — If you haven’t seen them, you might have heard them.
Hundreds of bikers started to roll in to town this week for the 21st bi-annual Thunder Beach motorcycle rally. The Kick-Start Party and preliminary round of the Miss Thunder Beach contest are Wednesday night at the Oaseas Resort, with an after party at Pineapple Willy’s Restaurant and Pier Bar.
Jennifer Norby, a Thunder Beach sales marketer, said organizers expect the biggest turnout yet at this spring’s five-day bike fest. She thinks between 60,000 and 100,000 bikes will rumble through Panama City Beach in the upcoming days, with many of those motorcycles carrying two riders.
More and more, she said, rally goers are staying in town and pumping money into the community for longer than just a few days.
“We’re finding that people are coming here as their annual vacation,” Norby said. “These are doctors, lawyers, business owners — I mean, these are expensive bikes. They come in to get away and they bring their kids.”
Dan Rowe, executive director of the Bay County Tourist Development Council, said the rally gives the area a “wonderful economic boost.”
“Just listening to the Harleys roll down the street, and the number of motorcycles that you see, does give you a clear indication that this is a major event for the Beach at a time that's outside the peak summer vacation season,” Rowe said. “The spring rally is a much larger rally than the fall rally, but they’re both important to the community.”
Police plan to step up their enforcement for the weekend, like they do each time Thunder Beach comes around, Police Chief Robert Harding said. He’ll have more officers out, but he doesn’t expect trouble.
“This is not a typical crowd that we have problems with,” the chief said. “Thunder Beach has never really been an event that we’ve had issues with, other than heavier traffic and occasional traffic crashes.”
original article
News
PANAMA CITY BEACH — If you haven’t seen them, you might have heard them.
Hundreds of bikers started to roll in to town this week for the 21st bi-annual Thunder Beach motorcycle rally. The Kick-Start Party and preliminary round of the Miss Thunder Beach contest are Wednesday night at the Oaseas Resort, with an after party at Pineapple Willy’s Restaurant and Pier Bar.
Jennifer Norby, a Thunder Beach sales marketer, said organizers expect the biggest turnout yet at this spring’s five-day bike fest. She thinks between 60,000 and 100,000 bikes will rumble through Panama City Beach in the upcoming days, with many of those motorcycles carrying two riders.
More and more, she said, rally goers are staying in town and pumping money into the community for longer than just a few days.
“We’re finding that people are coming here as their annual vacation,” Norby said. “These are doctors, lawyers, business owners — I mean, these are expensive bikes. They come in to get away and they bring their kids.”
Dan Rowe, executive director of the Bay County Tourist Development Council, said the rally gives the area a “wonderful economic boost.”
“Just listening to the Harleys roll down the street, and the number of motorcycles that you see, does give you a clear indication that this is a major event for the Beach at a time that's outside the peak summer vacation season,” Rowe said. “The spring rally is a much larger rally than the fall rally, but they’re both important to the community.”
Police plan to step up their enforcement for the weekend, like they do each time Thunder Beach comes around, Police Chief Robert Harding said. He’ll have more officers out, but he doesn’t expect trouble.
“This is not a typical crowd that we have problems with,” the chief said. “Thunder Beach has never really been an event that we’ve had issues with, other than heavier traffic and occasional traffic crashes.”
original article
Bikers gather for motorcycle safety
Off the Wire
Biker Rights Issues
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Hundreds of motorcycles surrounded the State Capitol on Sunday. Bikers gathered to kick off motorcycle safety month which begins in May.
An estimated 600 people came out to bring awareness to motorcycle safety. More than one hundred riders died in bike accidents in 2009.
Elizabeth Webb lost her son and little Shaye lost a father. Webb said in April of 2009 someone carelessly drove out in front of Matthew Webb as he rode on his motorcycle. She said that person took Webb's life and changed hers forever.
"He was a good son," said Webb."Living with this is like living in a nightmare. The only time you get away from this is when you're asleep."
According to state police, last year 104 people died in motorcycle accidents in Louisiana. That was a jump from 2008 when the reported deaths were 81.
"We want to leave our house, go take a ride, enjoy our rides and make it home," said Baton Rouge Police
Chief Jeff LeDuff. "Just watch out for us."
Chief LeDuff was in a motorcycle accident himself in late 2009. He said it is time for people to recognize that bikers have rights to the road as well.
"If people would look left, right, then left again, there would be less accidents," said Webb. "There's never a day that goes by that we don't cry."
Webb said the person who hit her son was never charged. A bill, set to be discussed by lawmakers Monday would increase penalties for drivers cited for failure to yield in the right-of-way.
If you are interested in taking a motorcycle operator training course with the Department of Public Safety, you can call 225-925-6113.
original article
Biker Rights Issues
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Hundreds of motorcycles surrounded the State Capitol on Sunday. Bikers gathered to kick off motorcycle safety month which begins in May.
An estimated 600 people came out to bring awareness to motorcycle safety. More than one hundred riders died in bike accidents in 2009.
Elizabeth Webb lost her son and little Shaye lost a father. Webb said in April of 2009 someone carelessly drove out in front of Matthew Webb as he rode on his motorcycle. She said that person took Webb's life and changed hers forever.
"He was a good son," said Webb."Living with this is like living in a nightmare. The only time you get away from this is when you're asleep."
According to state police, last year 104 people died in motorcycle accidents in Louisiana. That was a jump from 2008 when the reported deaths were 81.
"We want to leave our house, go take a ride, enjoy our rides and make it home," said Baton Rouge Police
Chief Jeff LeDuff. "Just watch out for us."
Chief LeDuff was in a motorcycle accident himself in late 2009. He said it is time for people to recognize that bikers have rights to the road as well.
"If people would look left, right, then left again, there would be less accidents," said Webb. "There's never a day that goes by that we don't cry."
Webb said the person who hit her son was never charged. A bill, set to be discussed by lawmakers Monday would increase penalties for drivers cited for failure to yield in the right-of-way.
If you are interested in taking a motorcycle operator training course with the Department of Public Safety, you can call 225-925-6113.
original article
Charity ride denied ending at Old Lyme beach
Off the Wire
News -
Old Lyme - Thanks, but no thanks, was the Board of Selectmen's response to a request from the organizer of a Sept. 12 March of Dimes motorcycle event that had hoped to end its ride with a cookout in Sound View beach.
First Selectman Timothy Griswold said selectmen voted Monday not to endorse the charity event's ride into town. "It's a lot of noise," said Griswold, who estimated that about 1,000 bikers would participate.
Though the ride is scheduled for after Labor Day, Griswold said the town would on that weekend just be getting over summer beach traffic and would be "breathing a sigh of relief" when the ride would have come through town.
March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization promoting healthy pregnancies and births. The organizer expressed interest in attending the next selectmen's meeting to discuss the request, Griswold said.
"I'm sure it'd be nice to have money for the charity, but you've got to think about the home town, too," Griswold said.
original article
News -
Old Lyme - Thanks, but no thanks, was the Board of Selectmen's response to a request from the organizer of a Sept. 12 March of Dimes motorcycle event that had hoped to end its ride with a cookout in Sound View beach.
First Selectman Timothy Griswold said selectmen voted Monday not to endorse the charity event's ride into town. "It's a lot of noise," said Griswold, who estimated that about 1,000 bikers would participate.
Though the ride is scheduled for after Labor Day, Griswold said the town would on that weekend just be getting over summer beach traffic and would be "breathing a sigh of relief" when the ride would have come through town.
March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization promoting healthy pregnancies and births. The organizer expressed interest in attending the next selectmen's meeting to discuss the request, Griswold said.
"I'm sure it'd be nice to have money for the charity, but you've got to think about the home town, too," Griswold said.
original article
Tonight on the Biker Lowdown: Geneva & the Exterminator, Campaign 1984, Baker, and Biker Chad
Geneva (center) and the Exterminator (left) will be on the Biker Lowdown tonight 8pm EST... BikerLowdown.com...
Along with a cast of characters that includes our good friends Baker and Biker Chad.
Don't forget... Geneva's Rock-n-Ride with Baker to benefit 2nd Harvest Food Bank Kids Cafe... and emcee'd by the Alpha Biker is coming on May 8th in Nashville, TN.
Go to BakerSongs.com to learn more!
Along with a cast of characters that includes our good friends Baker and Biker Chad.
Don't forget... Geneva's Rock-n-Ride with Baker to benefit 2nd Harvest Food Bank Kids Cafe... and emcee'd by the Alpha Biker is coming on May 8th in Nashville, TN.
Go to BakerSongs.com to learn more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
