Santa Rosa police on Tuesday will be keeping a close eye on motorcyclists in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.
Not only will motorcyclists be cited for traffic violations but so will drivers of cars and trucks who affect the safety of motorcyclists, such as failing to yield the right of way, Police Sgt. Lance Badger warned.
He said 12 traffic officers will be patrolling the city’s main streets, looking for the violations, throughout the day until 7 p.m. And, of course, the officers will peel off to respond to emergencies as necessary.
In 2010 and 2011, he said, the department investigated 53 injury collisions involving motorcyclists.
In a news release, Badger noted motorcyclist deaths statewide rose from 204 in 1998 to 560 in 2008 but dropped to 394 in 2009 and to 353 in 2010.
Tuesday’s extra enforcement is funded through a grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
UPDATE: As for those wondering whether noise will be part of the enforcement, Badger said, “Yes, it does include noise levels.”
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John
Hopefully the officers will bring and use their decible detectors…
April 23rd, 2012 3:44 pm
Sean Nolan
“will peel off”
that’s inappropriate, but funny.
April 23rd, 2012 3:54 pm
Slelby
Wouldn’t be nice if they started ticketing bikes with open pipes? It would be great to get a full nights sleep wit out being woken up by a Harley going by at full throttle.
April 23rd, 2012 5:19 pm
paul barrett
Can you explain what exactly is meant by giving the right of way to motorcyclists? Do we need to move over when they split lanes on the freeway? I thought they were obliged to follow the same rules as cars.
Thanks
Paul
April 23rd, 2012 5:22 pm
Rand Dover
Maybe the CHP should follow this example. Plenty of violators out there.
April 23rd, 2012 5:32 pm
Road.Warrior
Right of way? The sergeant is unavailable right now to explain, but the idea is for drivers of cars and trucks to treat motorcyclists just as they would if it was another car or truck. And as for splitting lanes, giving some extra room to motorcyclists makes sense from a safety point, if you can do it and remain safe yourself. I do think motorcyclists are taking a big risk when they split lanes.
April 23rd, 2012 5:36 pm
JCB
Many drivers do not let motorcycles merge, change lanes or let the MC go at a 4 way intersection as they do cars. I believe that is what he is talking about.
As far as splitting lanes or more technically “sharing” lanes is concerned, it is perfectly legal. Most of us do it responsibly but there are those that do it while riding way too fast. The guidelines are 5 to 10 MPH over the flow of traffic and not above 35 MPH. You can move over if you want to as it is a nice gesture in morning or evening commute traffic. There are 2 reasons for lane sharing. Most bikes are air cooled and will overheat quite quickly in stop and go traffic. The second reason is most drivers in stop and go traffic don’t account for the bike in front of them and look at the car in front of them. The bike gets hit more often than not. Statistics show it is safer to share lanes than to sit in stop and go traffic for a motorcycle. Statistics also show most accidents involving motorcycles sharing lanes are caused by motorist squeezing them out because they don’t agree with the practice of lane sharing.
There are laws for loud pipes and they are not enforced.
April 23rd, 2012 5:58 pm
Val
I wonder about the whole lane splitting as well. Recently, while in San Francisco enroute to UCSF, traffic was stopped and 4 or 5 motorcyclists were splitting the lane and one almost hit the side mirror on our pick up and he came even closer to the mirror of the car in front of us. Why is it even legal for them to do this. If they are supposed to be following the same laws of cars, they shouldn’t be allowed to fly between lanes of stopped or slow moving cars.
April 23rd, 2012 7:00 pm
Michael
It’s time to crack down on rediculously loud bikes. It’s really insane that we allow this kind of noise in our town and state. It truly affects our quality of life.
April 23rd, 2012 7:38 pm
Val
In response to JCB, thank you for clarifying as to why motorcyclists can, and should ‘split lanes’. It makes total sense. I, personally, don’t have an issue with lane sharing in stop and go traffic but always cringe when I’m driving my truck with the big mirrors (for towing) and have motorcyclists come within an inch of hitting the mirror. Who is at fault if that happens? Not mine. I respect the men and women who ride motorcycles. Secretly jealous, too.
April 23rd, 2012 8:50 pm
Dan
This is kind of like the bicycle argument, can’t we all just get a long? Yes, there are rude motorcyclist as there are rude car and truck drivers. I spend a good portion of my day pulling a trailer behind a truck and have to be very attentive to other drivers that do some ridiculously stupid things. When I do get time to ride my motorcycle I am very aware these same inattentive drivers and see some incredibly stupid things. Guys reading the newspaper in the car, women putting makeup on, browsing the internet and texting while driving, the list goes on…. You won’t see a motorcyclist do any of these things. I applaud the stepped up effort to ticket and educate the morons who drive cars and ride motorcycles.
April 23rd, 2012 9:26 pm
wango fango
“Can you explain what exactly is meant by giving the right of way to motorcyclists?” It includes cars that are waiting in intersection to turn left NOT turning in front on on-coming motorcycle and colliding with the motorcycle. A too-common infraction that has bad results for the motorcyclist who has the right-of-way…..small consolation en route to the hospital, heaven or the other place…
April 24th, 2012 2:17 am
Patrick
Lane spitting at unsafe speeds, passing on the shoulder at high speeds, abrupt lane changes, blowing through stop signs. A few idiots blow it for the majority who ride safely. I’ve been flipped off too many times by some of these morons while just trying to avoid them.
April 24th, 2012 6:39 am
Dave
Sorry Dan I have seen motorcyclists on the phone and texting, popping wheelies, running red lights, swerving around like indie cars warming thier tires. Please don’t try and make them out as perfect.
April 24th, 2012 7:05 am
Che
People need to lighten up, So what if a bike has loud pipes, they are only there for a few minutes and then they leave get over it, loud pipes actually save lives if you ask me, if it wasn’t for the loud pipes there would be a lot more accidents because theyre are dumb drivers who can’t see or hear them! Now as far as splitting lanes, just move over and give them room, we all know if we had bikes we’d want to split lanes too! Just think about it, if it were your family member or someone you know riding a bike you would’t want them to get hurt by an idiot driver who simply say’s they didn’t see them or hear them coming right? Can’t we all just get along?
April 24th, 2012 7:50 am
MC RIDER
Don’t forget the anti motorcycle stoplights they are still out there, cry’s to have em fixed falls on deaf ears.
April 24th, 2012 10:30 am
MC RIDER
P.S a noisy bike is a safer bike if used in the right manner.
April 24th, 2012 10:34 am
Brad
Hey, come on you car drivers! Try to understand that Harleys need to have noisy pipes to make up for having a lack of horse power. They’re just like their owners, loud and slow.
April 24th, 2012 11:19 am
Dan
@ Dave,
Come on what? You have seen a motorcyclist text? Not saying you did not but that would be pretty talented. I lumped moronic motorcyclist right in there with the rest of the morons. Or you did not read the end of the post? . I am not about to get in a p—— contest over what you have seen or what I have seen. Things are what they are and there are plenty of morons doing stupid things that can hurt or kill someone.
April 24th, 2012 8:10 pm
Pat
‘Donors’ need to drive defensively and not get into anyone’s blind spots. This state is too damn populated for motorcycles to be safe, but they think they are one up since they get 50 mpg. Whatever! I would rather be safe and get 13 mpg.
April 28th, 2012 8:43 pm
Todd
350 motorcycle deaths in 2010…doesnt compare to the 25,000 people who died in car accidents in 2011. Read the facts
May 6th, 2012 7:56 am
Jay daddy
Ive been a motorcycle rider in sonoma county since 2000.
I split lanes every chance I get . And strongly feel that loud pipes do save lives!!! Everyone who is against motorcyclists freedoms , in my opinion is just jealous cause you most likley grew up with mommy
Telling you motorcycles are dangerous…whooo!!! Get over it. To each there own. So stop being babys, and let riders enjoy there freedoms, and perhaps youll notice more thumbs ups. Rather than a middle finger. Motorcyclist come from many walks of life. Doctors,lawers,teachers ,peace officers,bussiness men and women,mothers,fathers
Sisters,brothers,sons and daughters….Not everyone you see under that helmet is a biker lowlife thug slash criminal. Watch out for bikers and share the road!!!!
May 6th, 2012 10:12 pm