WALNUT — Sheriff’s officials are planning to crack down on motorcycle safety Tuesday , authorities said.
“Extra deputies will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
“Deputies will be looking for drivers and riders who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclist as well as other vehicle drivers that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries and fatalities,” the statement said.
A 10 year trend of increasing numbers of motorcycle fatalities statewide peaked in 2008, with 560 deaths, and dropped by 37 percent in the following two years, officials said.
“This is a positive trend that we want to see continue,” the sheriff’s statement said.
In the area patrolled by the sheriff’s department, however, motorcycle crashed and fatalities have been on the rise.
Officials reported 184 injury motorcycle crashes in 2011, up from 47 in 1998. Two motorcyclists died in crashed in 1998, while six were killed in crashes in 2011.
Riders are encouraged to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. For more information, call 877-743-3411.