Careless motorists as well as riders get special scrutiny as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department aims to improve motorcycle safety.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and motorcycles who are violating traffic safety laws.

Motorcycle fatalities jumped dramatically in California by over 28 percent from a decade low of 352 in 2010. In 2013, 453 motorcyclists lost their lives, which is at a 5 year high. California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by both riders and drivers alike.

Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward. Over the course of the past three years motorcycle involved collisions, in the contract cities policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, have resulted in 778 fatal and injury crashes.

Safety tips for riders – See and Be Seen:

Use your lane position to increase visibility: change lanes only when there is ample room
Match your speed to surrounding traffic
Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and brightly colored, protective clothing
Ride with lights on during daylight hours

Safety tips for drivers-Share the Road:

Look twice for motorcyclist, especially when entering the roadway, turning or changing lanes
Motorcyclist are allowed in HOV lanes unless prohibited by signage

Riders are urged to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com/ or 1-877 RIDE 411 (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. The message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”