State cops plan extra effort against reckless bikers

State police intend to take a bite out of motorcycle hotdogs this summer, stepping up patrols in the region to catch speeders and prevent fatalities.

Authorities are reacting to an 18 percent increase in motorcycle deaths between 2006 and 2007.

Across Illinois, 132 motorcyclists perished in 2006 compared to 157 in 2007.

To counteract that trend, state police and local law enforcement will conduct checkpoints, targeting motorcycle riders who are speeding, being reckless or driving impaired. In the Chicago metropolitan area -- where the crackdown will focus -- deaths rose from 49 in 2006 to 61 in 2007.

"The tipping point was 2007," state police Lt. Luis Gutierrez said following a news conference to announced the initiative today. "We want to make that number lower than 2006."

Beefed-up patrols are already having an effect, officials say, pointing to fewer fatalities this year -- 56 -- in the first six months. The main cause of crashes are speeding and alcohol, police said.

"We want to send a strong message to motorcycle drivers that we're cracking down on aggressive driving and speeding," Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Claffey said. "We're very concerned about the number of fatalities."

But the enforcement action doesn't mean open season on all bikers, authorities stressed.

"If you're a good motorcycle rider, your chances of encountering a state trooper are slim," Gutierrez said.

Motorcycle registrations are up in recent years, which accounts for the deadly trend, experts such as Dean Akey said.

The longtime biker from St. Charles, who owns an insurance agency, said soaring gas prices are putting novices on the road who make rookie mistakes.

"We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg now," Akey said.

Instead of people purchasing bikes because they have a passion for motorcycles, "now people are doing it to make ends meet. It scares the daylights out of me."

He cited statistics indicating most bike fatalities occur among riders with less than three years experience.

After riding a motorcycle for 25 years, Akey knows that "things happen in a fraction of a second." Experienced riders can make corrections that newcomers won't when faced with the unexpected.

"Just because you buy a motorcycle doesn't mean you know how to drive a motorcycle," Akey said.