In conjunction with May being Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, police reminded motorists Wednesday to be mindful of motorcycle riders as warmer weather draws them to the roads.
“Motorcyclists are out in greater numbers as the weather warms, and we’re reminding everyone to share the road,” said Cpt. Yvonne Ortiz, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Traffic Coordination Division.
Ortiz added that most motorcycle crashes occur when drivers are not paying attention, noting that taking a few extra seconds to look twice can help prevent a tragedy.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 6,335 motorcyclists were killed nationwide in 2023, which represented 15% of total highway fatalities for that year.
A total of 538 motorcyclists in California were killed that same year.
Police advised several safety precautions for drivers, including always checking mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and avoiding following motorcycles too closely.
They also urged drivers to be cautious when a motorcyclist has a turn signal on and to ensure the rider is actually turning before proceeding.
Motorcyclists were advised to always wear a DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection, as well as protective gear such as a sturdy jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles, and gloves.
They were also encouraged to add reflective strips or decals to their clothing and motorcycle to improve visibility to drivers.
Police further advised riders to ride defensively, never assume drivers can see them, and keep their headlights on at all times, even during the day.