Random saturation patrols were initiated Thursday on Interstate 215 between Riverside and San Bernardino to crack down on motorcyclists who commit traffic violations and motorists who aren’t looking out for the two-wheelers.
The California Highway Patrol deployed additional officers Thursday specifically to catch “both motorcycle riders and drivers who make roads dangerous for other traffic, including unsafe speed, following too closely, unsafe lane changes and improper turning,” according to an agency statement.
The stepped-up patrols are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Get Educated & Ride Safe” — GEARS — program.
The CHP received a federal grant to cover the costs of the targeted deployments.
“Motorcycle-involved crashes in California continue to be a major concern for the CHP,” the agency stated. “From January 2022 through December 2022, provisional data revealed there were 196 injury crashes involving motorcycles and 12 fatal crashes involving motorcycles in the CHP Riverside jurisdiction.”
GEARS patrols will continue on various dates until Sept. 30.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the CHP’s Riverside office at 951-637-8000.