Lancashire Police have joined forces with the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety and RideSafe BackSafe to launch a campaign aimed at reducing the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.
BikeWatch involves officers and volunteers from RideSafe BackSafe visiting bike meetings and dealerships to speak to riders and hand out road safety information as well as road policing officers carrying out enforcement activity on routes popular with motorcyclists which are known to be casualty hotspots.
Chief Inspector Damian Kitchen from Lancashire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Motorcyclists account for just one per cent of traffic on our roads but 21 per cent of fatalities. They are vulnerable road users who often come off worse in collisions.
“Last year alone, nine motorcyclists were killed in Lancashire and 526 injured – 180 of them seriously.
“Operation BikeWatch will focus firmly on safety, with a great deal of educational work being done by ourselves and partner agencies, but inevitably there will also be some enforcement activity in casualty hotspots. We will be using a range of tactics including using our helicopter and officers on patrol to prevent and identify bad riders and drivers.”
Officers have issued the following advice to motorcycle owners as part of the campaign:
- Be visible – make sure your headlight works and is on day and night and use reflective strips or decals on your clothing and on your motorcycle.
- Dress for safety – wear a quality helmet and eye protection and appropriate, protective clothing.
- Be aware – give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions and give other motorists time and space to respond to you.
- Drive safely – know and follow the rules of the road and stick to the speed limit.
• For further advice, motorcyclists can visit think.gov.uk or ridesafebacksafe.org. They can also follow Lancashire Police on Facebook and Twitter for Operation BikeWatch updates.