Reaching Motorcyclists Through Innovative Techniques: California
Problem Identification California Motorcyclist Fatalities 600 500 432 469 506 518 560 400 383 300 200 235 204 236 276 299 324 100 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
California Problem Identification: CA motorcyclist fatalities increased 175% from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008 Motorcycle Safety Summit May 2008 Technical Assessment of California s Motorcycle Safety Program September 2008
Reaching California Motorcyclists Enforcement Strategies Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement Helmet Exchange Motorcycle Collision Data Collection Project
Enforcement Strategies Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations Education and Enforcement Simple and Free Added to law enforcement grants Leverages funding you already have
Education and Enforcement Combine Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations with free, earned media Use the publicity generated by enforcement operations to raise awareness about motorcycle safety issues Be ready for the educational opportunity
Simple and Free Add two objectives to your law enforcement grants: 1. To conduct highly publicized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation(s) in areas or during events with a high number of motorcycle incidents or collisions resulting from unsafe speed, DUI, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, improper turning and other primary collision factor violations by motorcyclists and other drivers.
Simple and Free 2. To issue a press release prior to each motorcycle safety enforcement operation to raise awareness about motorcycle safety in general and to draw attention to the motorcycle safety enforcement operations.
Simple and Free Use grant money that you already have and are already spending Section 402 Section 410 And even Section 164
Leverage Current Funding Same Funding Same Activity (traffic enforcement or DUI enforcement) Same Target (all road users) Different Name
Leverage Current Funding Change the name of the operation With Section 402 or 410 funds... Was: Traffic Safety Enforcement Now: Motorcycle Safety Enforcement With Section 164 Funds... Was: DUI Saturation Patrol Now: Motorcycle Safety DUI Patrol
Leverage Current Funding Issue a press release Let each enforcement operation deliver your motorcycle safety messages: Get trained get licensed See and be seen Share the road Wear the right safety gear Speed kills Follow these safety tips...
News Headlines Police officers will increase patrols to enforce motorcycle safety Police will be on the lookout Wednesday for unsafe motorcyclists and drivers Sheriff s deputies to beef up motorcycle safety patrols
Educational Opportunity Be prepared for: Inaccurate reporting Backlash from motorcycle rights organizations
Sample of Resulting Story LASD Set To Host Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation KHTS 1220 AM, Santa Clarita, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune & the Whittier Daily News A specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on August 6, 2013 will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department s Risk Management Bureau/ Traffic Services Detail in the City of Walnut to continue and effort to lower deaths and injuries related to motorcycle accidents. The terrible trend of rising motorcyclist fatalities has been reversed, though there is more that everyone can do to save more lives. Riders and drivers need to respect each other and share the road, said California Office of Traffic Safety Director, Christopher J. Murphy. Traffic Services Detail Deputies to increase enforcement aimed at dangerous riders and careless motorists. Extra deputies will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. 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 motorcyclists as well as other vehicle drivers that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries, and fatalities. After ten years of steadily increasing motorcycle fatalities in California, increasing 175 percent from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008, the trend has changed. Two consecutive years of fewer motorcycle fatalities 394 in 2009 and 352 in 2010 have resulted in a 37 percent decrease since the 2008 peak. This is positive trend that we want to see continue. In the area policed by the Los Angeles Sheriff s Department, there was a 390 percent increase in motorcyclists injured over the last 13 years with 47 injured in 1998 and 184 in 2011. There was a 300 percent increase in motorcyclists killed over the same time period with 2 killed in 1998 and 6 killed in 2011. California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs. The Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes. Some of the reduction in riders killed can be attributed to fewer improperly licensed riders. In 2008, 62.7 percent of motorcycle operators killed under age 25 were not properly licensed. In 2009, that statistic fell to only 45.5 percent. Riders, young and old, are encouraged to be properly licensed and to seek training and safety information. Rider s can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at www.ca msp.org<http://www.camsp.org> or 1 877 RIDE 411 or 1 877 743 3411.
Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations 2010 2011 2012 Total Number of Operations 354 182 284 820 Motorcycle Stops 3353 1612 2511 7476 Other Vehicle Stops 5115 2866 4772 12753 SFSTs Administered to Motorcyclists 135 66 95 296 SFSTs Administered to Drivers 245 163 217 625 DUI Arrests of Motorcyclists 19 10 12 41 DUI Arrests of Drivers (DUI Alcohol only 2012) 66 34 49 149 DUI Drug Arrest of Motorcyclists 0 0 DUI Drug Arrests of Drivers 6 6 Criminal (in custody arrests) 57 23 37 117 Suspended Revoked Drivers Licenses 184 184 Motorcycle License Endorsement CVC 12500(b) 150 168 148 466 Recovered Stolen Motorcycles 3 0 3 Recovered Stolen Vehicles 3 3 6 Citations Issued to Motorcyclists 802 1894 2696 Citations Issued to Drivers 3607 *3607
Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement Problem: 2008 CA motorcyclist fatalities peak at 560 of riders killed under age 25, 63% were not properly licensed (41% in 2000) Solutions: Raise awareness about training and licensing Get unlicensed riders off the motorcycle
Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement Q: How to raise awareness about training and licensing? A: Section 2010 Funding to promote rider training Q: How to get unlicensed riders off motorcycles? A: Make traffic stops to check license status (Need probable cause officer training)
Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement NHTSA grant to International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) IADLEST presented a Train the Trainer workshop on Motorcycle Safety and Enforcement California OTS grant to Livermore PD to deliver the training to more California LE agencies (FFY 2012)
Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement IACP Train the Trainer Course Free, POST certified 8 hour training how to address motorcyclists in your community Vehicle Code sections that apply to motorcycles tips on avoiding motorcycle pursuits understanding the helmet law how to recognize DUI motorcyclist, how to get involved in motorcycle safety education efforts in your community
Train the Trainer for Law Enforcement Results: 30 classes delivered 687 officers trained as trainers A total of 123 agencies were represented #
Helmet Exchange
Helmet Exchange Developed as part the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), Challenge Area 12, charged with Improving Motorcycle Safety Snell Helmet Foundation, CHP, Livermore PD 2009 one event 12 donated helmets 2012 5 events 164 helmets 2014 6 events 200 helmets w/ evaluation
Helmet Exchange
Helmet Exchange Benefits: Excellent PR opportunity for Law Enforcement Educational Opportunity (cut aways, videos brochures, etc) Overcome peer pressure re novelty helmets Event P/A System messaging Media Opportunities (during and post event)
Helmet Exchange
Helmet Exchange
Helmet Exchange
Helmet Exchange
One More Legal Helmet User
164 Bogus Helmets Replaced
Motorcycle Collision Data Project Collision Data Collection Grant to UC Berkeley 1 page supplement data form 12 months data collection All CHP investigated collisions 75 allied agencies Approx. 8,000 collisions
Motorcycle Collision Data Project Data Points: Was properly licensed? How many wheels on motorcycle? Was lane splitting involved? Was motorcycle rear ended? Did motorcycle rear end other vehicle? Speed of motorcycle? Speed of surrounding traffic?
Motorcycle Collision Data Project Data Points continued: Was rider transported? Type of Injury? Type of Helmet? Helmet complies with DOT? Labeling? Helmet damage? Helmet remained on head? High visibility helmet/clothing/motorcycle?
Motorcycle Collision Data Project Results: Preliminary, through May 1 st (10 Months) Collisions of 5,285 motorcycles with 5,540 riders 4,178 from CHP (79%) 1,107 from allied agencies Complete Results expected in October Follow up: Link with hospital injury data
Moving Forward California Motorcyclists Killed 600 560 500 400 300 276 299 324 383 432 469 506 518 394 352 414 200 235 204 236 100 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
STATE OF CALIFORNIA Office of Traffic Safety Ron Miller Operations Coordinator (916) 509 3020 Ron.Miller@ots.ca.gov