South OC Times

The Orange County Sheriff's Department will deploy additional deputies on patrol in Laguna Niguel on Thursday, November 21. The focus will be on identifying violations by drivers and motorcyclists that increase the risk of accidents.

With nearly 900,000 registered motorcycles in California, many road users travel without the same protections as car drivers. Statistics show that motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than vehicle occupants.

To enhance safety for all road users, several tips have been provided:

For drivers:

- Always check twice for motorcycles in mirrors and blind spots.

- Use signals when changing lanes.

- Maintain a safe distance from motorcycles.

- Allow enough space at intersections before turning.

For motorcyclists:

- Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and protective gear such as gloves and leather clothing.

- Consider using reflective tape on clothing to increase visibility.

- Keep lights on at all times, even during the day.

- Signal well in advance before changing lanes and watch for turning vehicles.

- While lane splitting is legal, it is not encouraged at high speeds or between large vehicles like big rigs and motor homes.

All motorcycle riders, regardless of their skill level, are encouraged to enroll in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. More information can be found at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com or by calling 1-877 RIDE-411 (1-877-743-3411). Funding for these motorcycle safety enforcement operations comes from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.