LAKE COUNTY — With an increase in the number of people choosing to ride bicycles for transportation, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are embarking on a campaign during the month of May titled “Roll Model” to encourage all motorists to safely share the road.
“The goal of the ?Roll Model” campaign is to educate motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians about the rules of the road and encourage everyone to act responsibly,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “It is especially important for bicyclists to be visible when riding with traffic and for motorists to use extra caution when approaching driveways and making turns at intersections.”
May”s traffic safety campaign by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) follows a significant increase in the number of people killed in bicycle-involved collisions in California. According to Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) data, in 2011 there were 142 bicyclists killed in California. Those deaths accounted for 5 percent of the total collision fatalities in California.
Beginning Sept. 16, California drivers must give bicyclists three feet of clearance or slow down and pass when it would not endanger a bicyclist”s safety.
“More Californians are walking and biking and it is everyone”s responsibility to save lives by avoiding distracted driving,” OTS Director Rhonda Craft said. “When all travelers pay attention and share the road, it helps curb collisions and improve transportation safety.”
In March, Caltrans released the California Household Travel Survey, which found the percentage of California residents walking, biking or using public transportation on a typical day has more than doubled since 2000.
For information on pedestrian and bicycle safety, visit the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at www.pedbikeinfo.org/index.cfm.
According to CHP and OTS, being a “Roll Model” means:
? Riding and driving focused — never distracted.
? Riding and driving prepared — always expect the unexpected.
? Putting safety first — it is impossible to know when a crash will occur, regardless of the skill level or age of the bicyclist or motorist; always wear a bicycle helmet when on a bicycle and a seat belt when in a car.
? Sharing the road — both vehicle drivers (motorist and bicyclist) should look out for one another and show mutual respect.
