Motorcycle Fatalities are on the Rise Again
After a two-year decline in motorcycle fatalities, it appears that the numbers are rising again, this according to The California Office of Traffic Safety. The organization reported recently that 414 motorcycle riders died in California in 2011, an 18 percent increase over the previous year. This is a disturbing trend, and there are no easy answers as to what may be behind the jump.
Oakland Police Planning Motorcycle Safety Enforcement
If you live in Oakland, prepare for extra motorcycle safety enforcement on Wednesday. The Oakland Police Department is conducting the operation in the hopes of reducing motorcycle-related deaths and injuries.
More California Cities Crack Down on Motorcyclists
Last week, we reported about a planned police crackdown in Napa, California, that would affect motorcycle riders in particular. The operation placed additional officers on the streets of Napa, specifically to look out for motorcyclists who break various traffic laws, such as speeding, riding without a helmet, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, failing to yield to traffic signs and making unsafe maneuvers.
Solvang Man Pleads No Contest in Motorcycle Accident Death of CHP Officer
Man may only receive probation in CHP officer's death.
Curtis Smith, 71, plead no contest in Santa Barbara Superior Court to charges stemming from a motorcycle accident which resulted in the death of a California Highway Patrolman.