By Mary O’KEEFE

Depending on how you ride the ‘Crest this will be a very good weekend, or one of those times when you knew you should have had slowed down but …

California Highway Patrol from the Altadena area office will conduct a special enforcement campaign on Saturday on Angeles Crest Highway.

“We will have about 10 officers [patrolling],” said Officer Kevin Denmon.

The campaign is supported through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

“We are doing this because of the recent motorcycle [traffic] accidents [stretching] back to 2007,” Denmon said.

Between 2007 and 2009 there were 10 motorcycle-involved fatlities and 195 injuries on the corridor, stated CHP in a press release.

A seven-mile stretch of the Angeles Crest Highway was open on June 3 after it was shut down due to the Station Fire of 2009. The first few weekends saw three fatal accidents, including one motorcycle driver.

The ’Crest has been a popular ride for motorcyclists with its twisting and winding roads but the roads are not for novice bikers. Many times speed is underestimated or the turns are a little too tight and a motorcycle can end up over the side of the mountain road.

“We want motorcycle drivers and those in vehicles to be safe,” Denmon said.

His advice? “Obey all the laws.”

For those who don’t heed Denmon’s advice, drivers will likely be meeting some of the CHP officers patrolling the ‘Crest on Saturday.

  Mary Okeefe