9:58am Wednesday 6th August 2008
BIKERS across the Midlands are being urged to take more care on the roads after a sharp rise in the number being killed or seriously injured.
The warning comes after West Mercia reported 10 bikers died between April 1 and April 13 this year, compared to six riders during the same period in 2007.
Officers from the force will now be targeting certain routes and specific meeting places used by bikers in a bid to reduce these numbers.
Superintendent Matt Mead, from West Mercia Force Operations, said: “Rural areas such as Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire attract large numbers of leisure motorcyclists using powerful sports bikes, and the majority of collisions occur on the main roads.
“Over the last three years 35 per cent of the motorcyclists killed in the West Mercia area have died on roads in Shropshire and around half of the motorcyclists killed are from the West Midlands and Staffordshire areas.
“Many collisions are caused by the riders’ lack of skills or knowledge of the area, combined with riding at excessive and inappropriate speeds so it is vital that bikers ride in accordance with the law and their own capabilities.”
West Mercia will be carrying out enforcement activities on roads well used by bikers, and this will include the use of the force helicopter along with un-marked video-equipped vehicles.
Specifically, police will be targeting bikers who ride at excessive speeds and those who indulge in risky manoeuvres and who pose a danger both to themselves and others.
For more information about motorbike safety visit www.westmercia.police.uk.
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