As part of a concentrated effort to reduce the number of injuries and fatal accidents occurring on area roadways, police officers in Santa Monica plan to make the enforcement of motorcycle safety laws a top priority in the near future.
Intersections where motorcycle collisions frequently occur and areas with higher concentrations of motorcycle traffic will be patrolled by a larger than average number of police officers, according to a representative of the Santa Monica police department. In addition to an increased focus on spotting and citing motorcyclists in violation of traffic safety regulations, police officers will also be on the lookout for motorists participating in behavior that might lead to a collision with a motorcyclist. The leading causes of collisions involving motorcycles are traveling at an unsafe speed, risky behavior when turning or changing lanes, and operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to law enforcement officials.
Between the years of 1998 and 2008, California’s motorcycle collision deaths increased from 204 fatalities to 560 fatalities, an increase of 175 percent. Since then the number of fatal motorcycle collisions per year decreased to 394 in 2009 and 352 in 2010.
As a Los Angeles car accident attorney, I hope the roads can be made safer for motorists and motorcyclists alike. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle or automobile collision, please consider contacting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.