In a continued effort to reduce fatal motorcycle crashes, increased safety patrols will be visible June 23-25 during the ABATE Spring Opener near Randle, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission announced Friday.
The patrols will focus on illegal driving behaviors by both motorcycle riders and other vehicle drivers, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
“Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol will be working overtime focused on drivers and riders who commit traffic safety violations,” the commission stated in a news release.
More motorcycles travel on Washington’s roads in the summer months than any other time of the year, and officials are concerned that fatal motorcycle crashes continue to increase in Washington, according to the news release.
“The increasing number of motorcycle rider deaths is very concerning and we know that we can all work to prevent these deaths,” stated Shelly Baldwin, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Drivers can watch out for motorcyclists. Riders can improve their skills through training. All of us can respect speed limits and ride and drive sober.”
From 2018 through 2022, motorcycles made up just 3 percent of the registered vehicles on Washington’s roads but accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities (492 of 3,076), according to the news release. In 2022 alone, preliminary data shows 132 motorcycle rider fatalities in Washington, possibly the most in a single year in the state’s history. This was a 43 percent increase over 2021, per the release.
While about two-thirds of fatal motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, illegal and dangerous actions by the rider including speeding, losing control in corners and curves, improper passing, and riding under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs were the main contributing factors cited in these crashes.
“Summer events can bring thousands of people together from across our state,” Baldwin stated. “We want to ensure that everyone enjoys the weekend and arrives back home safely.”
In June 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a study supporting the effectiveness of law enforcement patrols in reducing unsafe driving behavior and crashes.
“The Washington Traffic Safety Commission and participating law enforcement agencies condemn profiling. Trained and commissioned law enforcement officers will be conducting these patrols enforcing traffic violations as defined by Washington State laws,” the commission stated in a news release.
For training videos and other information on the “It’s A Fine Line” motorcycle safety program in Washington, visit http://itsafineline.com/.
These and all extra law enforcement patrols sponsored by Washington Traffic Safety Commission are part of Target Zero — striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways, according to the news release.
For more information, visit www.targetzero.com.
Additional information on the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found on the website, www.wtsc.wa.gov.
