Santa Monica police will crackdown on motorcyclists who break the law during a special operation this Sunday, July 22, in areas where motorcycle crashes occur.
Extra officers will patrol these areas in this specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation, which is being done in an effort to continue lowering deaths and injuries.
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.
Motorcycle fatalities had been on the rise in California, increasing by 175 percent in 10 years, from 204 deaths in 1998 to 560 deaths in 2008. This trend has reversed and data now shows a 37 percent decrease, to 394 in 2009 and 352 in 2010, which is a positive trend we want to see continue.
Riders 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 operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.