CHP Blames Inexperience For Spike In Motorcycle Crashes
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The California Highway Patrol has noticed a disturbing trend involving motorcyclists on the golden state's highways and roadways: the rate of accidents is increasing.
KCBS' Susan Kennedy Reports:
"The number of motorcyclists getting into collisions, statewide, has increased more than 132% during the past ten years. That was basically between 1998 and 2007," said discouraged CHP officer Art Montiel. "In 1998 there were 200 motorcyclists killed in California. And in 2007 there were 465 motorcyclists killed, statewide."
It's not surprising, then, that May has been designated by Montiel's agency as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
"It's important for motorcyclists to minimize their risk by riding responsibly," he explained the safety awareness campaign. "Watch your speed, drive defensively, some people in cars don't see you. And stay out of blind spots, especially on big trucks."
The CHP is also offering a motorcycle safety training program, something Montiel suggested is critical as more "green" riders are hopping on bikes.
"Due to the high gas prices, many motorists are turning to ride a motorcycle when some have never ridden them before," he theorized. "Some have never ridden a motorcycle and some haven't ridden one in, you know, the last 20 years. Then that actually causes them to get involved in traffic collisions."
There are 1.2 million licensed motorcyclists in California.
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