Fatal motorcycle crashes decline nearly 30 percent in California
If you love riding your motorcycle, there’s some good news you should know about motorcycling in California. Motorcycle crashes resulting in fatalities have decreased by 28 percent in just a year.
The great thing about California is that it’s relatively safe for motorcyclists. In 2017, 406 bikers were killed on state roads, but that was close to a 30 percent decrease from 2016. Nationwide, the number of fatal crashes dropped by only 5.6 percent. Other states also saw large drops. Those included Delaware, Mississippi and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia.
Although the number of fatal crashes has decreased, it’s still important to keep in mind ways to stay safe around drivers. You should always wear bright colors or those that make you stand out. Consider wearing leather for added protection and always wear a helmet.
You shouldn’t speed, and you need to understand the specific road rules that apply to motorcyclists in California. Finally, know that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is looking for people who violate the laws and will pull them over. They’ve stated that they will pull over anyone, rider or driver, who violates laws in order to keep the roads safe.
Some of the things that the CHP doesn’t have any tolerance for include following too closely, unsafely changing lanes, improperly turning and driving at unsafe speeds. Just making sure that you’re focused on the road and on obeying traffic laws will make a difference in keeping you and others safe. Doing these things can help continue to reduce the fatal crashes in the state.
Source: The Mercury News, “Fatal motorcycle crashes fall 28 percent in California,” Gary Richards, May 25, 2018