From Bill Lindelof:
With the number of motorcyclists killed in collisions statewide increasing more than 140 percent during the past decade, according to California Highway Patrol statistics, law enforcement and state officials called attention for the need to share the road.
Christopher J. Murphy, director of the state Office of Traffic Safety, told reporters at a press conference Friday morning at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento that with warmer weather, more motorcyclists will be on the road, and all motorists need to be extra alert.
"After a crash we often hear drivers say they never saw the motorcyclist and it was too late to stop," Murphy said.
The CHP issued these statistics detailing motorcyclists killed and injured statewide from 1997 through 2007:
Year Motorcyclists killed Motorcyclists injured 1997 221 7,328 1998 191 6,227 1999 221 6,819 2000 266 7,537 2001 295 8,405 2002 318 8,837 2003 368 9,681 2004 350 9,488 2005 404 9,347 2006 433 10,188 2007 460 9,519 TOTALS 3,527 93,376
Murphy urged anyone needing training to attend a CHP motorcycle safety program. Last year, 63,000 people attended training courses at one of the 114 CHP-administered California Motorcyclist Safety Program training sites.
The training program is one of several places where a new "Red Asphalt"-type video will be distributed. Called "Thrill or Buzz Kill?" the CHP's will also be shown at schools and other events to promote safety.
Click here to see the video.
