56º North May 2019 | Page 12

Motorcyclists urged to ride safely as summer biking season begins

Police are urging motorcyclists to ride safely as bikers prepare to get back on the road for the summer season.

Police are urging motorcyclists to ride safely as bikers prepare to get back on the road for the summer season.

As the nights are getting longer, many recreational bikers will be taking their machines out of storage and getting back on the road, possibly for the first time in several months.

The Police Scotland Motorcycle Safety Campaign will promote safe and responsible motorcycling with a view to reducing the number of road traffic casualties and improving rider behaviour.

The campaign, which will run until the end of September, was launched today (Tuesday 16th April) at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire by Police Scotland.

Superintendent Louise Blakelock, deputy head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: “Although motorcyclists make up only one per cent of the motoring public they account for around 20 per cent of the people killed in road crashes, often during cornering or overtaking manoeuvres. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable than other motorists - the smallest of errors, by rider or driver, can lead to very serious consequences, particularly when higher speeds are involved.

“Road safety is everyone's responsibility. I urge motorcyclists to follow our safety advice; by doing so they will avoid collisions. Other roads users must keep a careful look out for motorcyclists, particularly when turning into or out of junctions where many collisions occur. Drivers who actively apply the road safety message, ‘Think Bike, Think Biker’ will help keep our roads safer and save lives."

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “We have been successful in reducing accidents and casualties and Scotland now ranks amongst the safest countries in the world for road safety. In spite of this progress, more remains to be done and particularly for motorcyclists.

“Currently, motorcyclists represent around one per cent of traffic but account for around 20 per cent of fatalities, so it is imperative we continue to work with partners and the motorcycle community itself to drive casualty figures down. While the longer evenings and better weather will be tempting many bikers to head out to enjoy Scotland’s roads in the days and weeks ahead, it’s very important they do so in a safe manner and ride to the conditions.

Police are urging motorcyclists to

ride safely as bikers prepare to get

back on the road for the summer

season.

As the nights are getting longer,

many recreational bikers will be

taking their machines out of storage

and getting back on the road,

possibly for the first time in several

months.

The Police Scotland Motorcycle

Safety Campaign will promote safe

and responsible motorcycling with a

view to reducing the number of road

traffic casualties and improving rider

behaviour.

The campaign, which will run until

the end of September, was launched

Today (Tuesday 16th April) at the

Grampian Transport Museum in

Alford, Aberdeenshire by Police

Scotland.

Superintendent Louise Blakelock,

deputy head of road policing at

Police Scotland, said: “Although

motorcyclists make up only one per

cent of the motoring public they

account for around 20 per cent of the

people killed in road crashes, often

during cornering or overtaking

manoeuvres. Motorcyclists are more

vulnerable than other motorists - the

smallest of errors, by rider or driver,

can lead to very serious

consequences, particularly when

higher speeds are involved.

“Road safety is everyone's

responsibility. I urge motorcyclists to

follow our safety advice; by doing so

they will avoid collisions. Other roads

users must keep a careful look out

for motorcyclists, particularly when

turning into or out of junctions where

many collisions occur. Drivers who

actively apply the road safety

message, ‘Think Bike, Think Biker’

will help keep our roads safer and

save lives."

Cabinet Secretary for Transport,

Infrastructure and Connectivity

Michael Matheson said: “We have

been successful in reducing

accidents and casualties and

Scotland now ranks amongst the

safest countries in the world for road

safety. In spite of this progress, more

remains to be done and particularly

for motorcyclists.

“Currently, motorcyclists represent

around one per cent of traffic but

account for around 20 per cent of

fatalities, so it is imperative we

continue to work with partners and

the motorcycle community itself to

drive casualty figures down. While

the longer evenings and better

weather will be tempting many bikers

to head out to enjoy Scotland’s roads

in the days and weeks ahead, it’s very important they do so in a safe manner and ride to the conditions.