Mobile billboards deliver warning to motorcyclists

19 July 2008

"Bikes aren't dangerous. Bad riders are" – that’s the message that Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership is sending to motorcyclists during the bank holiday weekend (23 to 25 August).

Mobile billboards deliver warning to motorcyclists

Advertising vans bearing 200 square foot safety messages will be heading to the Derbyshire countryside to target the most popular biker routes. 

Robert Hill, manager of the road safety partnership, said: "Bikers are drawn to the Derbyshire countryside because it offers great rides – but too many of them are running into trouble.  Nearly a third of the people killed or badly hurt on our roads last year were motorcyclists."

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

Robert added: "Each billboard on wheels warns motorcyclists not to get caught out in Derbyshire by difficult roads, extra police patrols or speed cameras. Look out for them on the A6, A515, A621 and A5012."

The partnership recently published The Bikers' Guide to Derbyshire - A free pocket-sized booklet explaining how to survive the eight countryside routes which they have identified as biker crash hot spots. The guide also includes an application form for a subsidised rider development course called Bike Plus.

Thanks to Derbyshire County Council, bikers can usually take advantage of the training for as little as £50 if they live in Derbyshire or £90 if they live outside the county. Bike Plus instructors teach bikers to spot hazards and tackle challenges - such as cornering and overtaking - with greater confidence

Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058 a free copy of The Bikers' Guide to Derbyshire.