Santa Rosa police plan motorcycle safety operation

With spring in the air, motorcyclists are itching to get their bikes on the road. With this in mind, the Santa Rosa Police Department plans to hold a motorcycle safety operation today.

Santa Rosa police will give both automobile drivers and motorcycle riders extra scrutiny to ensure safe habits on the road. Roadways and intersections where motorcycles and motorcycle collisions are most common will be patrolled by extra officers on duty.

Police ask motorcycle riders to keep lights on during the daytime, wear bright clothing and DOT compliant helmets. Car drivers are asked to always look twice for vehicles on two wheels.

Motorcycle fatalities in California jumped from a decade low of 352 in 2010 to 519 in 2014.

In Santa Rosa, there were 41 motorcycle collisions in 2014, resulting in 37 injuries and one death. The number rose to 59 accidents in 2015, causing 59 injuries and two deaths.

- Nick Rahaim