Santa Monica Police Department Working to Improve Motorcycle Safety

The following release was submitted by the Santa Monica Police Department:

The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on Sept.14 in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and injuries involving motorcyclists.  

Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where accidents commonly occur.  Officers will be looking for violations commonly made by drivers of passenger vehicles and motorcyclist, which lead to many motorcycle collisions such as, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns, stop sign violations 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.

California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs.  The Santa Monica 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 http://www.ca-msp.org/ or 1-877 RIDE 411 or 1-877-743-3411.

For more information please contact Sergeant Phillbo Rubish at the Santa Monica Police Department Traffic Division, 310-458-8950, or the Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Richard Lewis at 310-458-8462.

Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

How dangerous do you think motorcycles are? Do you ride a motorcycle? Share your thoughts in the comments.