CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Warm weather and high gas prices are bringing out more motorcycle riders to Chicago area roads.
State and local police are launching a crackdown on reckless motorcycle riders that will include patrols using air support, radar guns, lidar (which uses beams to follow a vehicle) and roadside safety checks.
Last year, 157 people died in motorcycle crashes on Illinois roads. That's up 18 percent from the previous year. In the first half of this year, there have been only 56 fatalities in the state.
State Police Lieutenant Jim Alexander says he's seen more motorcycles out this year and he attributes that in part to record gas prices.
Chicago Police Commander Bob Evans says police will target open stretches of road that motorcycle riders use to speed.
He says almost half of the fatalities are alcohol-related.
Police estimate 92 percent of motorcycle riders in the U.S. have NOT had any formal training.
In Illinois, the state offers free safety training classes at 63 locations, according to Larry Williams with the Illinois Department of Transportation's traffic safety division. Riders must pass a written and road test to get a motorcycle classification on their drivers license.
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