Drivers and motorcyclists urged to take extra care as collisions expected to peak in July
Warwickshire Police are asking drive to be more cautious.
Warwickshire Police is asking motorcyclists to take extra care on the county’s roads and to ride defensively as we approach July - the peak month nationally for collisions involving motorcyclists.
Officers are also asking drivers to take extra care around motorcyclists and to look at least twice for them, particularly at junctions.
Although motorcyclists make up less than 3% of vehicles on the UK’s roads, they represent more than 20% of those killed in collisions.
In Warwickshire between 2019-2023 the top contributory factors in collisions involving the more powerful motorbikes 500cc and over, were that the vehicle driver or rider failed to look properly; failed to judge the other person’s path or speed; was careless/reckless/in a hurry; lost control; poor turn or manoeuvre; or exceeded the speed limit.
OPU Traffic Inspector Si Paull said “Our country roads are popular with motorcyclists particularly in the south of the county where we have the Fosse Way and other great routes. I’m a motorcyclist myself and although these roads are great fun for bikers, they are challenging and this is where we see the majority of our most serious collisions.
“As well as making it a habit to keep on learning to become a safer and more skilful biker, we are urging motorcyclists to wear the correct protective clothing, slow down for junctions and make sure they have been seen by drivers particularly when they approach junctions.
“Whilst the majority of motorcyclists enjoy their bikes responsibly, we do not apologise to those who choose to speed that we have increased our patrols and will be using both marked and unmarked bikes and cars to target speeding bikers and drivers during the NPCC Fatal 4 operation from 1-31 July.“