| Show Bicycle patrols planned in effort to reduce c carnage on Utah roads Utah Department of Health Salt Lake City UT In the world of bicycles bicycles bicy bicy- cles vs cars bicycles nearly always lose E Each ch year in In Utah an average of bicyclIsts bicyclists bicy bicy- are badly hurt and six are killed in crashes crash crash- es with cars In an effort to help cyclists and motorists share the road safely the Utah Department of Health is launching a pilot safety project project- Bicycle Safety Enforcement Actions in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation the Utah Department of Public Safety's Highway Safety Office and with law enforcement enforcement enforcement enforce enforce- ment agencies in Northern Utah For the next two months police officers and sheriffs deputies will patrol the streets looking for drivers drivers drivers dri dri- dri- dri vers and cyclists who break the law The enforcement program was made possible possible possible ble through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the chose the pilot project because of Utah's consistently high motor bicycle-motor vehicle death rate For the years 2003 1994 Utah ranked 11 th highest in inthe inthe inthe the nation for bicyclist deaths We know many people dont don't even realize there are strict laws outlining how drivers and bike riders must share the road said Theron Jeppson A project manager For example its it's not well-known well that bikes are considered vehicles and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists he said t Bicyclists cai an b-asi b all H any road they choose ras long as they are riding with traffic and obeying the law Beginning June 10 Salt Lake City Salt t Lake County and Taylorsville City officers will be present in traffic high-traffic areas where bike crashes occur Undercover officers will ride Violations Bike Patrol officers will look for tor include Motorists Failure to yield way right Failure to stop at stop signs lights Illegal turns Speeding Improper passing Bicyclists Failure to yield way right Failure to stop at stop signs lights Illegal turns Riding against the flow of ot traffic bikes in traffic while fellow officers watch for drivers who are speeding crowding cyclists off the edge of the road and failing to yield at stop signs and red lights The other important part of the operation is watching for cyclists as well We know cyclists can be just as guilty of breaking the law said Mark Panos They run red lights change course without warning and most dangerous of all ride against traffic Having these officers actively looking for violations is a great opportunity to stop drivers and cyclists and teach them how to be safer just by obeying the law Panos r r rJ i. i Officers will have the have the choice of ticketing or warning violators based on severity and will give everyone they stop a new Share the Road guide that outlines laws and offers safety safety safety safe safe- ty tips For information about bicycle safety call the at or visit |
