Napa Police to Crack Down on Motorcyclists

The Napa Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on August 10, 2014 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 under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns, or any other dangerous violation.

Motorcycle fatalities saw a phenomenal drop of 37 percent from 2008 to 2010, but then rose 23 percent by 2012. Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward.

In the City of Napa, there were 25 collisions involving a motorcycle in 2012, one of which resulted in a fatality. In 2013, there were 11 motorcycle involved collisions in Napa, none of which were fatal but 8 motorcyclists were injured. So far in 2014, there have been 9 motorcycle involved collisions in Napa. It is the goal of the Napa Police Department to reduce the number of motorcyclist injuries and deaths.

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. The Napa Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes.

Riders can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at www.CA-msp.org or 1-877 RIDE 411 or 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.”

--Announcement from Napa Police Department