In order to reduce motorcycle crashes and save lives, the Inglewood Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this month for the annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness campaign to help save lives on our roadways. The awareness campaign seeks to educate vehicle drivers and motorcyclists on how each motorist can be more aware of the other, creating safer roads and saving lives in the process.
The Inglewood Police Department will join law enforcement throughout the state to step up enforcement along with awareness efforts to lower motorcycle deaths and injuries during the May campaign. Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all traffic violations by both drivers and motorcyclist, deploying “saturation patrols” on May 8, 17 and 19.
According to NHTSA, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2015, while motorcycles make up just 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. In 2016, 5,286 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes – a 6 percent increase from the 4,976 killed in 2015. More than 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
Recent data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows there are more than 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state and more than 1.4 million licensed riders.
The Inglewood Police Department has these general tips to drivers on how to prevent a fatal crash with a motorcycle:
• Though a motorcycle is a small vehicle, motorist can do their part by sharing the road.
• Always us a turn signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
