New campaign aims to safeguard bikers

9 March 2012

MotorbikeThe 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership is planning to continue last year’s fall in the number of bikers killed or injured on North Yorkshire’roads with the launch of a new motorcyclist awareness campaign.

Last year saw a 4 percent drop in the number of motorcycles ridden on the most popular routes but a 48 percent drop in the number of bikers either killed or seriously injured. It is hoped this encouraging trend will continue when the new biking season begins in March.

The Road Safety Partnership will be officially kicking off this year’s Motorcycle Safety Campaign later this month with a series of events to raise awareness among motorcyclists across the county..

As part of the campaign this year there will be a series of videos that highlight the dangers of some of North Yorkshire’s most popular motorcycle routes, along with a bikers guide to the county that highlights where and how crashes have happened, gives advice and information about improving riders skills and some useful facts about choosing helmets and other gear.

The partnership is keen to raise awareness about collision hotspots around the county, and common mistakes that riders have made that have caused fatal or serious injury accidents.

Figures show that 75 percent of accidents involving motorcyclists on North Yorkshire’s country roads are actually caused by the biker making a mistake, rather than car driver error. Many crashes are the result of overtaking on the approach to bends, late braking and harsh braking.

In 2010, 19 bikers were killed on North Yorkshire’s roads and 95 were seriously injured, and in 2011 nine were killed and 82 seriously injured.

Those bikers most likely to be involved in a collision are men aged between 30 and 59, who ride sports bikes over 500cc.

Acting Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, the chairman of the 95 Alive Partnership, said:

All of the partners were heartened by the reduction in fatal and serious injury accidents involving bikers last year.

As we approach the spring, we know that bikers will be taking to North Yorkshire roads again to enjoy the good weather and lighter evenings, so we are launching our new campaign in the hope that we can continue work with them to improve their safety on our roads.

 

Casualty figures, last 3 years, motorcycles over 125cc, North Yorkshire (2011 figures provisional).

Fatal 

2009 – 14

2010 – 19

2011 – 9

Serious

2009 – 91

2010 – 95

2011 – 82

Top five High Risk Routes over the last 6 years:-

B1222 – Sherburn in Elmet to Stillingfleet

B1257 – Helmsley to Stokesley

A59 – Skipton to Harrogate

A170 – Thirsk to Scarborough

A65 – Ingleton to Skipton

75% of collisions were caused by rider error

Common situations where riders lose control:-

Nearly half of collisions occurred while the rider was negotiating a bend.

Nearly a quarter of collisions occurred whilst the rider was travelling straight ahead.

A quarter of collisions occurred during late braking.

Analysis of the Police “STATS19” casualty database shows the following rider profiles

The majority of riders (89%) are men

Over half of them are aged 40 to 59 years of age

Nearly half of the riders lived in North Yorkshire

Nearly a quarter of the riders lived in West Yorkshire

Nearly all collisions involved motorcycles over 500cc

Nearly half of all collisions occurred on ‘A’ roads.

Campaign summary

Throughout the Spring and Summer months the 95 Alive Team will attend various venues popular with motorcyclists. The spring schedule includes:-

18 March – Market Place, Helmsley

25 March – Squires café, Sherburn in Elmet

25 March – Pennygarth Café, Hawes

29 March – Whistle Stop café, Whitby

1 April – Scarborough Sea Front

14 April – Oliver’s Mount Races, Scarborough

Specialist staff will be on hand to:-

Distribute copies of the Bikers Guide to North Yorkshire

Discuss rider behaviours which contribute to injury collisions

Highlight the top five high risk routes

Promote rider skill development opportunities such as the national Police led Bikesafe Assessments and the DSA Enhanced Rider Scheme

Highlight the importance of correctly fitting, safety approved helmets

Information will also be disseminated via www.roadwise.co.uk, facebook, the 95 Alive YouTube channel, Motorcycle newspapers and magazines, twitter, cafes, motorcycle dealers and Approved Training Bodies.

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