Over 80 motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on North East roads in past year
Police forces across the North East are joining a ‘National Motor Cycle Week of Action’ as figures show more than 80 people have been killed or seriously injured in motorbike collisions in the past year.
The NPCC are leading on the campaign, aimed to reduce collisions on our roads.
From the start of 2016 to the start of August 2017 in the Northumbria Police Area there have been 8 fatalities and 12 seriously injured motor cyclists as a result of road traffic collisions, which highlights the vulnerability of the motor cyclist as a road user.
Police from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit dealt with six deaths and 58 serious injuries over the past year.
Nationally, it’s expected that despite motorcyclists making up just 1% of road traffic, they accounted for 21% of all road deaths in the UK in 2015.
This campaign will concentrate on raising awareness amongst general motorists as well as riders. Improving road safety through education and ensuring that riders have the correct skills and knowledge to ride safely.
Police will engage with riders and make them aware of educational courses available, designed to assist them in their general riding, awareness and an opportunity to learn basic first aid aimed at treating riders injured at collision scenes.
Police say they will be enforcing Road Traffic Legislation but where appropriate offer offenders a RIDE (Rider Intervention and Developing Experience) course as opposed to prosecution.
Sergeant Matthew Sykes of Northumbria Police Motor Patrols said:
“We are dedicated to keeping our roads safe for all users and this campaign is an ideal platform for us to build on our relationship with riders and educate the public on how to stay safe on our roads.
“Our job isn’t just about catching those who break the law, but also about keeping our communities safe and raising awareness is a big part of that.
“The courses available to riders are fantastic and an excellent way of expanding your knowledge, I advise everyone and anyone to get involved.”
Sergeant Steve Teasdale from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit said:
“We are highlighting the importance of motorcycle safety on the road not just for motorcyclists but also for other road users. We will be out there in order to ensure that those vulnerable users of the road do get home safely and we do that through education and enforcement.
“You are 60% more likely to be involved in a fatal collision on a country road, as opposed to 11% on a motorway. Certainly there is a lot more rural roads in Durham where tractors are travelling at a slow speed around those corners you can’t quite see and you assume the road is open… It’s just about not taking that risk.”
For more information about National Motor Cycle Week of Action, visit: http://www.npcc.police.uk