Police To Ramp Up Patrols Thursday In Livermore

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore residents may notice some extra officers making the rounds Thursday to keep an eye out for dangerous car and motorcycle violations.

The operation is geared at motorcycle safety and reducing the chance of crashes, police announced this week. Motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in a crash compared to people in a car, police said. Some 900,000 motorcycles are registered in the Golden State.

Safe driving practices include checking twice for motorcycles in mirrors and blind spots, using a signal to change lanes, keeping a safe distance from motorcyclists and allowing plenty of space before turning at an intersection, police said.

Motorcyclists must wear protective gear such as leather clothing, gloves and a helmet compliant with safety regulations. They should also keep lights on at all times, consider adding reflective tape to clothing, signal well before changing lanes to ensure drivers see them and avoiding lane splitting at high speeds in free-flowing traffic or driving between large vehicles such as big rigs and motor homes, police said.

The operation is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.