CHP Commander John Tyler wants All Motorcyclists to
SURVIVE the RIDE!
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide
the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California.
As motorcycle fatalities and
injuries have increased in California, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Office
of Traffic Safety (OTS) have stepped up their efforts to promote safety and
education, highlighted by Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May.
In 2013, motorcycle collisions
resulted in 475 fatalities and 13,143 injured victims. In 2012, 467 people were killed and 12,617 were
injured. Nationwide, motorcyclists made up 14 percent of all
vehicle-related fatalities in 2013, up from about 9 percent in 2004, according
to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
“Surviving the ride must be
foremost in the mind of every motorcyclist. This means taking a motorcycle
safety course, wearing the proper gear, using a Department of Transportation compliant
helmet and staying alert,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Every vehicle has
its place on the road, but motorcyclists face additional dangers because
motorcycles require exceptional handling ability and are more difficult to
see.”
During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month – and throughout the year – all
road users remind motorcyclists safe. That message is most important in
California, which is home to more than 830,000 registered motorcycles – the
most of any state – and more than 1.4 million motorcycle riders.
“Californians increasingly get
around by means other than cars and trucks. More are bicycling, walking, taking
mass transit and motorcycling,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “That also means
that everyone needs to be extra cautious and looking out for everyone else, no
matter what their means of transportation is.”
By participating in three major
statewide events in May, the CHP will promote safety to thousands of
motorcyclists.
The Motorcycle Safety Awareness
Month events include:
May 2-3: Bay Area Motorcycle
Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Alameda
May 21: Motorcycle Night with
the River Cats, Raley Field, Sacramento
May 25: West Coast Thunder
Memorial Day Bike Run, Riverside, California
More than 7,500 motorcyclists
participate in the ride to raise funds for Riverside National Cemetery,
specifically to support the burial of indigent and homeless veterans.
The California Highway Patrol
is statutorily responsible for California's official motorcycle safety training
program. The California Motorcyclist
Safety Program (CMSP) trains approximately 65,000 motorcyclists every year.
As of July 2014, nearly 945,000 motorcycle riders have received training at one
of the authorized CMSP training sites since the program began in 1987.
For more information or to find a training site near you, go
to www.californiamotorcyclist.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDERS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS
>Wear the proper safety gear at all times,
including a DOT-compliant helmet
>Obey the speed limit – excess speed is the most
common rider-related factor in motorcycle related crashes
>Don’t drink and ride – DUI is a leading cause of
motorcycle crashes
> Ride within your own limits – don’t be a victim
of peer pressure
> Ride defensively – assume other drivers don’t
see you
> Survive
the ride!