News Release

Date 08/27/08

For Immediate Release: Springfield Police joined by other area agencies for Operation Safe Ride

Efforts in Operation Safe Ride are continuing only now with help from other local law enforcement agencies. The campaign was launched in July by the Springfield Police Department with a goal to reduce motorcycle involved crashes. To date, there have been 10 Fatality Crashes in Springfield for 2008. Eight of those crashes have involved motorcyclists.

The Springfield Police Department would like to announce that members of the Greene County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol will be joining them in this campaign. Officers from all three agencies are planning to conduct joint enforcement projects that target offenses committed by motorists. Some such offenses include Careless and Imprudent Driving, Speeding, Driving While Intoxicated, Failure to Yield Right of Way, and Improper Lane Changes. An emphasis will also be on violations of Missouri's Helmet Law that requires cyclists to wear D.O.T. approved head protection.

The primary goal of Operation Safe Ride is to educate motorists of the inherent dangers that motorcycle riders face while driving in traffic as well as enforcing the traffic laws that are often found to be a contributing factor in the serious injury and fatality crashes investigated by the department.

 

Media Contact: Public Information Officer Grant Story, phone 417-864-1702

Release authorized by: Lt. Faye Barksdale