Petaluma PD Plans Motorcycle Crackdown On Saturday

PETALUMA - Petaluma Police will continue their aggressive campaign against bad driving in the city, this time targeting motorcyclists on two specific days: Saturday, March 19 and Monday, March 21.

According to information released on their open Nixle website, motorcycle traffic enforcement operations are planned during daytime hours to "increase motorcycle safety in Petaluma."

Police say extra officers will be on duty Saturday and Monday. Those officers will be paying particular attention to motorcycle riders, but will also be watching for motorists operating in dangerous ways near motorcycles.

As you may remember, the Petaluma Police carried out an openly-announced DUI checkpoint just a week ago, overnight from Friday, March 11 to Saturday, March 12.

That operation resulted in 5 citations and 2 arrests, including a 60-year-old woman with priors.

Also On Patch:

• Petaluma DUI Checkpoint Set For Friday Night
• Petaluma DUI Checkpoint Results Released

Here's the entire release from Petaluma Police:

Motorcycle traffic enforcement operations planned for Saturday March 19 and Monday March 21 to increase motor cycle safety in Petaluma.

PRESS RELEASE

Improving Motorcycle Safety Aim of Petaluma Police Department Operation

Careless motorists as well as riders get special scrutiny

The Petaluma Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on Saturday March 19 and Monday March 21 during daytime hours 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 violating traffic safety laws.

Motorcycle fatalities jumped dramatically in California by over 28 percent from a decade low of 352 in 2010. In 2013, 453 motorcyclists lost their lives, which is at a 5 year high. 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. Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward. Over the course of the past 5 years, motorcycle involved collisions have resulted in 2 fatalities and 29 injury crashes in Petaluma.

Safety tips for riders – See and Be Seen: • Use your lane position to increase visibility; change lanes only when there is ample room • Match your speed to surrounding traffic • Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and brightly colored, protective clothing • Ride with lights on during daylight hours Safety tips for drivers – Share the Road: • Look twice for motorcyclists, especially when entering the roadway, turning or changing lanes •

Motorcyclist are allowed in HOV lanes unless prohibited by signage Riders are urged to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com/ or 1-877 RIDE 411 (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.”