California Motorcycle Collisions on the Rise

As more travelers take to the road for summer vacations, the California Highway Patrol is warning all drivers — motorcyclists included — to take road safety seriously

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow noted that the Golden State is home to more than 1.2 million licensed riders. And every year in California “thousands of motorcyclists are involved in collisions resulting in the loss of hurdreds of lives,” said DMV
Director George Valverde.

Preliminary numbers from 2008 indicate more than 500 motorcyclists were killed in collisions statewide. In fact, rider fatalities are consistently on the rise with each passing year.

“The unfortunate thing is most of these collisions could be easily avoided simply by increasing awareness,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.

The No. 1 identifiable primary collision factor for motorcycle-involved
collisions is unsafe speed,, said Commissioner Farrow, who’s also a former police motor offtcer.

The CHP strongly encourages all riders to sign up for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) before beginning to ride. CMSP offers the Basic Rider Course for beginners and Advanced Ríder Courses for riders who are interested in sharpening their skills.
For information, visit www.ca-msp.ors.

Source: CHP

Topics California Auto