CHP To Enforce Motorcycle Safety On I-680, Hwy 4 In Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA -- California Highway Patrol in Contra Costa County announced the launch Thursday of a motorcycle enforcement period on Interstate Highway 680 and state Route 4.

The stepped-up enforcement involves deploying additional officers on I-680 and SR-4 “in an effort to reduce the number of motorcycle incidents or collisions resulting from unsafe speed, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, improper turning, and other primary collision factor violations by motorcyclists and other drivers,” CHP Contra Costa Area Spokesman Brandon Correia said in a news release.

In 2016, there were 145 injury traffic collisions involving motorcycles and three fatal traffic collisions involving motorcycles within the Contra Costa CHP Area’s jurisdiction, Correia said statistics showed.

In an effort to prevent such incidents, Correia says officers will be patrolling for “aggressive” motorcyclists, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”

“Aggressive drivers often commit multiple moving violations in addition to speeding, such as following too closely, passing without sufficient clearance, improper lane change, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper movements, and driving in violation of cell phone and texting laws,” Correia said.

In addition to the crackdown on I-680 and SR-4, CHP Contra Costa Area will conduct similar motorcycle safety enforcement operations through Sept. 30, Correia said.

To assist in this months-long traffic safety effort, Correia said CHP Contra Costa Area has received “Have a Good Ride III” federal grant monies via the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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