On Sunday August 11th, the Santa Monica Police Department will be out in full force, on the lookout for motorcycle safety violators.
According to a press release from the SMPD, police officers will be patrolling areas in Santa Monica where motorcycle accidents commonly occur. Officers will be looking for not only motorcycle riders who are violating the California Vehicle Code, but for violations made by automobile drivers which lead to many motorcycle accidents.
Officers also want to remind automobile drivers in Santa Monica to be alert for motorcyclists when turning or changing lanes.
Specifically, the violations that officers will be looking for are:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding
- Making illegal turns
- Stop sign violations
- Any other dangerous violation
Though motorcycle fatalities went down by 37% between 2008 and 2010, then went up by 18% in 2011. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the most common causes of motorcycle crashes include:
- Speeding
- Unsafe turning
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs