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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_05_10_Motorcycle Safety Month Enforcement Release510_1 Bakersfield Police Department PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: May 10, 2010 Lt. M. Willoughby 326-3731 mwilloughby@bakersfieldpd.us Bakersfield Police Department Steps Up Enforcement During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Police to increase enforcement aimed at dangerous riders and careless motorists May is Motorcycle Awareness Month all across California and the Nation. The Bakersfield Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on May 11th and again on May 19th in an effort to continue lowering deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where crashes occur. Officers will be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists as well as other vehicle drivers that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries and fatalities. While motorcycle fatalities had been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008, preliminary numbers for 2009 show that the trend may be changing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting that California may see a 20% reduction in motorcyclists killed. California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs. The Bakersfield Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes. “Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than others sharing the road,” said California Office of Traffic Safety Director, Christopher J. Murphy. “Motorcyclists, per vehicle mile traveled, are 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash.” Rider’s 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. # # # Motorcycle Safety Tips Tips for drivers to help keep motorcyclists safe on our roadways: * Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections; * Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic; * Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed; * Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. And don’t tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars. *Never drive while distracted. Motorcyclists can increase their safety by: * Positioning themselves in the lane where they will be most visible to other drivers. * Never driving while impaired. * Wearing a DOT-compliant helmet; * Use your motorcycle’s turn signals; it is California law. Combine hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to yourself. * Combining hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to themselves; * Avoiding riding in poor weather conditions; * Wearing brightly colored protective gear; * Using reflective tape and stickers to increase conspicuity; and The message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: Help to share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”