CHP to stress motorcycle safety, awareness
The California Highway Patrol has been awarded a grant to promote motorcycle safety and awareness from now through Sept. 30.
Goals are to reduce the number of motorcycle-involved fatal and injury traffic collisions statewide. California continues to experience high numbers of motorcycle-involved collision deaths and injuries . In 2013, motorcycle-involved fatal and injury collisions increased approximately 4.5 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, during the previous 12 months.
The CHP will deploy officers on enhanced motorcycle safety enforcement operations in regions with a high number of motorcycle incidents. Periods of traditionally heavy motorcycle activity such as May, which is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month; Memorial Day; Fourth of July; and designated motorcycle events in 2016 will also be targeted. A year-long series of motorcycle traffic safety education events will be conducted.
CHP will emphasize the “share the road” message.
Where is Erik Estrada when we need him.
I ride a motorcycle, am not a young guy.
Share the road is great but,if bikers would do a few cautionary things it would help a lot with their safety:
The biggest issue is simple visibility.
Travel with the flow of traffic instead of using the bikes better maneuverability while driving. Bikes are small, and even with the lights on are harder to see than cars and trucks especially when moving fast. No way to fix this easily except not doing it.
Even though California (incredibly) allows lane splitting, DON’T DO IT.
This practice is responsible for many accidents when a biker is going faster than traffic, on the lane boundary, between two rows of larger vehicles. One glitch, (an open door, a truck with extended mirrors and other similar things) can impact the biker.
Is the above mostly common sense? Yes but we all know how uncommon that is, to invoke the old cliche’
As a motorcycle rider I appreciate any effort to promote motorcycle safety. People in cars need to put their phones down.