Biker road deaths halved

[totalmotorcycle]

Biker road deaths halved
Monday, November 6, 2006 - By Helen Gabriel - The Press - yorkpress.co.uk




THE number of motorcycle deaths on the county's roads has been slashed in half.

North Yorkshire is on course for its lowest number of motorcycle fatalities since 1999, but a senior police officer today warned riders that they still need to work with them to stop the year ending in tragedy.

Assistant Chief Constable David Collins said: "Riders across the region have taken on our message that enjoyable riding need not be dangerous riding, and have responded responsibly in their thousands.

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"That's great, and needs to continue right through to the end of the unusually extended leisure riding season.

"My fear is that the late start to Autumn is resulting in massive numbers of riders coming to enjoy North Yorkshire's roads, long after the traditional leisure riding season is over, and they are not aware of the dangers that can lie on the county's thousands of miles of rural roads."

So far this year, 11 riders have died on the county's roads, compared with 20 by the same time in 2005.

But Mr Collins said: "There is still no cause for celebration.

"Eleven families, 11 groups of friends, 11 groups of colleagues, and many more acquaintances and fellow motorcyclists are bereaved.

"Their lives have changed irreversibly because of those 11 dreadful accidents.

"We don't want anyone else to go through that sort of pain and loss.

"That is why I am asking riders to be especially careful during this Indian Summer."

He said riders continuing to use their bikes at this time of year could be caught out by blind corners coated in wet, slippery leaves, ice patches lurking in shadows, even on sunny days, standing water lying in the dips of swooping roads and barely visible black ice.

He said other road users unaware that there were still many motorcyclists out enjoying the country roads - some of them travelling fast - could also be a potential hazard.

Sales of powerful sports bikes have continued to boom and more riders than ever before have visited the county to enjoy its riding areas. But police say their "get tough" policy has paid dividends.

Mr Collins reminded riders and drivers that North Yorkshire Police operate a 24/7 hard-line policy with speeders and anti-social road-users.

He added: "We want visitors to enjoy our county and its scenic roads, but we will not tolerate those who speed and ride or drive dangerously, or those who spoil other people's enjoyment and peace."