In preparation for the Hollister Freedom Rally, the California Highway Patrol is launching a motorcycle safety campaign during this year’s Independence Day weekend.
As bikers travel from Gilroy to Hollister from Friday to Sunday, officers will look for car motorcycle rider violations that can lead to collisions, according to a CHP press release.
They will be cracking down on all violations, including driving under the influence and distracted driving, according to the CHP statement.
There are currently more than 1.3 million licensed motorcycle riders in California, according to the press release from CHP. In 2011, motorcycle collisions accounted for nearly 16 percent of all roadway fatalities, a 20 percent increase from the year before, the statement explained.
The release of the press release follows two fatalities that occurred on Highway 25 earlier this month. Sunday June 14, Hollister resident Armando Gonzalez, 37, was killed after being struck by a car driven by 23-year-old Hollister resident Robert Thomas, who is suspected of driving under the influence in the incident. The following day, Hollister resident Omar Carino Mendez, 33, was killed in a seven-vehicle pileup involving a big rig.
The CHP reminds motorcyclists to:
• Wear a helmet and protective gear.
• Watch their speeds.
• Assume people in cars do not see them.
• Try to stay out of blind spots.
The CHP and Office of Traffic Safety encourage other drivers to:
• Give motorcycles extra room.
• Look twice for motorcycles.
• Remain extra vigilant when entering or crossing intersections.
