Bikers – don't get caught out!

17 March 2008

Don't get caught out in Derbyshire – that's the message the area's road safety partnership is delivering to motor bikers at the start of this year's leisure riding season.

Overall, the number of people killed or seriously injured on Derbyshire roads dropped by around 30 per cent between 1997 and 2006 – but biker casualty figures have shown no such improvement. 

In 2006, more than a quarter of the people killed or seriously injured on Derbyshire roads were bikers – despite the fact that bikers make up just over four per cent of the county’s road users. That's why the partnership is targeting bikers with a new campaign. 

Partnership manager Robert Hill said: "Bikers are drawn to the Derbyshire countryside because it offers great rides – but too many of them are running into trouble.  Three quarters of motorbike crashes on the county's rural roads are caused by rider error. 

"We want bikers to enjoy our countryside year after year rather than leaving the county in an ambulance or a hearse."

Derbyshire police will be making their presence felt on the country roads where bikers are regularly coming to grief. Operation Focus will be launched during Easter weekend, which traditionally marks the start of the leisure biking season, and run on selected weekends and weekday evenings until October. During the operation, the police will be using both marked and unmarked vehicles for speed detection and patrols. 

Roads Policing Sergeant Eric Millington said: "The majority of motorcyclists ride within the law and their own capabilities. They have nothing to fear from this year’s enforcement campaign.  

"However, we shall be doing everything that we can to detect those who commit offences - particularly those involving excessive speed or dangerous and aggressive riding."

At Easter, the police vehicles will be joined on Derbyshire's country roads by a fleet of advertising vans emblazoned with 200 square foot safety messages. 

The partnership has produced a free guide to Derbyshire aimed exclusively at bikers. The pocket-sized booklet offers discounted training and advice on surviving the countryside routes where bikers are regularly coming to grief. For a copy, Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058. 

During the past couple of weeks, Derbyshire County Council has put up more than 250 safety messages along the routes identified in the guide. The signs at the beginning and end of each route give biker casualty figures and the remainder say 'Please ride safely' or 'Look twice for bikes'. 

Derby City Council is reminding motorists to 'Think Bike' by displaying roadside posters across the city. The signs have been placed in areas where crashes have happened in the past and most of them are at roundabouts and junctions.