Ca - Officers to crack down on speeding motorcyclists on Highway 33

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/22/chp-to-crack-down-on-speeding-motorcyclists-on/
Officers to crack down on speeding motorcyclists on Highway 33

By Cindy Von Quednow
Ventura County Star
I am for anything that's going to make our hobby safer. Roy Hooper Starting this weekend, the California Highway Patrol will increase enforcement on Highway 33 north of Ojai in response to a rash of speed-related motorcycle crashes.

Patrol officer David Webb said Highway 33 is a scenic route popular with motorcyclists out for a ride on a clear day, and they might be focused more on the scenery than the road.

"There are hazards out there for sure, especially it being a rural area," he said. "It's a long, winding road with one lane in each direction and not a lot of shoulder room for mistakes."

On Sunday, two separate motorcycle crashes on Highway 33, one near Lockwood Valley and one in Ojai, killed three people.

The new enforcement effort is part of a statewide program called the Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Speed III Project and is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The focus is to reduce the number of motorcyclists and drivers injured or killed in speed-related collisions on state highways and county roads.

According to the patrol, 70 injury and four fatal motorcycle crashes occurred on Highway 33 north of Ojai from 2007 to 2010. Nearly 90 percent are caused by speeding, authorities said.

More than 70 percent of the motorcycle injury accidents on Highway 33 occur on Saturday or Sunday.

"People go for a joyride on weekends," Webb said. "They travel up that road in groups, especially when the weather gets nicer."

Tips for safe riding on Highway 33 California Highway Patrol officer David Webb and motorcyclist Roy Hooper suggest these tips for Highway 33 motorcyclists:

- Drive at the posted speed limit.

- Be aware of your surroundings and road conditions.

- Stay as close to the right side as possible.

- Look as far down the road as possible. He said the increased patrol presence might slow drivers down.

"If they see us, they might think twice. Just being there creates more of an awareness," Webb said.

Roy Hooper, president of Cal Coast Riders, a motorcycle club based in Ventura and Santa Barbara, said the increased enforcement on Highway 33 is a good idea.

"I am for anything that's going to make our hobby safer," said Hooper, 55, who has been riding for about 36 years. "Our fellow motorcyclists need to ride with more responsibility."

Hooper lives near the site of Sunday's crash in Ojai and takes Highway 33 to work every morning. He said the sharp curves can be difficult to maneuver for inexperienced bikers.

"On a motorcycle, when you only have two wheels, you really have to be alert and look as far down the road as you can," he said.

In May, Hooper and fellow riders will visit the Lancaster Valley Poppy Reserve as part of their monthly Southern California scenic drives. He said it can be difficult to stay alert when surrounded by beautiful landscapes, even if you have visited the site before.

"It's nice to admire the view, but you have to concentrate on your driving," Hooper said. "That's why we plan stops, so we can look around."