Motorcycle deaths dropped dramatically this year in California, state safety officials said Wednesday, after a decade of troubling increases.
In the first six months, 198 persons were killed in motorcycle crashes on state roads, down from 264 in the same period last year, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show.
While other causes of highway fatalities had been dropping in recent years, motorcycle deaths had been on a steady rise, caused in part by older motorists buying large bikes - often will little or no bike training - and by increased popularity of lighter racing style bikes among younger riders.
This year's 25-percent fatality decline is the first decline since 1998, officials said.
"We are very heartened by these numbers," said Christopher Murphy, head of the state Office of Traffic Safety. "If they continue, it means more motorcycle riders are getting home alive, which is what we have been working for."
Overall, traffic fatalities have dropped 20 percent in the last three years, while motorcycle fatalities had gone up 19 percent.
State officials have been pushing for two years for motorcyclists to take riding safety classes, and for other drivers to be more aware of motorcyclists around them.
"We have really been working at encouraging riders to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Training Program (CMSP), no matter what their age or experience," said Joe Farrow, California Highway Patrol Commissioner.
Farrow said the number of people taking the courses is up. "I can't stress enough the importance of proper training, proper licensing, and alert driving to keep riders and motorists alive on our roadways."
State safety officials said 37 percent of motorcyclists killed in recent years were not properly licensed, and that motorcycle operators were at fault in 70 percent of fatal crashes involving motorcycles. "Super Sport" type motorcycles, which accelerate quickly, were involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal motorcycle crashes.
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