Motorcycle Safety Rules To Be Enforced By East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT - The East Haven Police Department will be participating in motorcycle safety enforcement in the coming months to help reduce motorcycle related injuries and deaths.

As the weather gets warmer, the amount of motorists on the street will increase, creating a potential hazard to pedestrians, motorists and motorcyclists alike. With this in mind, we will be paying extra attention to the areas that attract the majority of our motorcycle activity.

These areas will include the shore / beach area, residential neighborhoods, and our major throughways. It’s important to understand that motorcyclists and motorists both share a responsibility to keep each other safe.

Officers will be looking for violations which will include unsafe and reckless operation, excessive speeds, performing stunts or wheelies, and equipment violations. We also want to encourage motorcycle operators to keep their throttles down while in town. We are asking for voluntary compliance with this ongoing issue. It’s not our intention to deal with this by just issuing tickets. We don’t think that in itself will stop the behavior. We do however expect motorcycle operators to drive through our community, and many times their own community with respect for everyone else around them. We will be forced to address operators who willfully disrespect these quality of life laws.

We also suggest motorcyclists do the following to ensure they stay as safe as possible while out riding:

· Attend a motorcycle rider safety course.

· Possess a valid driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement.

· Wear protective gear including eye protection, helmets and high visibility/ protective clothing.

· Operate motorcycles that are appropriate to their degree of skill.

· Ride sober.

· Be a defensive driver.

· Follow all traffic laws.

· Pay close attention to the vehicles around them, especially at intersections where a lot of motorcycle accidents occur.