Shropshire roads getting safer for bikers
Shropshire's roads are becoming safer for motorcyclists – while death rates across the border in Mid and North Wales soar.
For the past three years in Telford & Wrekin there have been no fatalities involving motorbike riders, with the number of serious injuries dropping from six in 2012 and in 2013 to five in the first eight months of 2014.
The rest of the county has also seen its figures drop, with four fatalities in 2012, three in 2013 and just one so far this year. The number of serious injuries has also fallen, dropping from 33 in 2012 to 32 in 2013 and 16 this year.
The figures are in stark contrast to those over the Shropshire/Wales border, which have seen a sharp rise, prompting a plea from the chief constables of North Wales and Dyfed Powys Police for riders to take more care.
Numbers of bikers killed and seriously injured in both the Dyfed-Powys and north Wales police areas have been rising for the past three years.
There have been 11 motorcyclists killed and nine seriously injured in the Dyfed-Powys Police area so far this year and a further five killed and 63 seriously injured in north Wales in the same period.
The figures have alarmed both forces so much that they sent a message to bikers in Shropshire, who frequently head to Wales for its roads, to take more care.
Anna Higgins of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia said despite dropping numbers of casualties, bikers should still be aware of the dangers of riding around rural roads and consider going on a course to gain more experience.
She said: "Shropshire is a very popular area for bikers and, as such, attracts many riders to the area. Unfortunately, over the past three years in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin there have been eight fatalities and 89 serious injuries following collisions involving motorcyclists.
"The Take Control course is available to all riders of mopeds, scooters and motorbikes across Shropshire who want to brush up on their biking skills, gain more confidence on their bike or become a better rider in preparation for their full test. The course is available to riders of all ages and abilities but we'd particularly welcome new or inexperienced riders and feel that they would really benefit from the course and the chance to gain new skills and experience with a trained instructor which will be invaluable out on the roads. As the course is subsidised by the partnership, it offers fantastic value when compared with the usual cost of motorcycle or moped skills training.
"Part of our overall Think Bike campaign is to not only provide this subsidised training for bikers, but to also raise awareness among other motorists about the importance of looking out for motorbikes."
The only fatal crash in Shropshire this year saw the death of Nicholas Stephen Taylor, 64, from Knighton, on April 1.
Mr Taylor died instantly following the crash on the A49 on the outskirts in Ludlow after his Aprilla ETV motorbike exploded following a crash with a lorry.
At an inquest at the start of August, his death was ruled to be an accident after witnesses said the motorbike wobbled before the crash and the lorry driver couldn't have avoided him.
For more information on Take Control courses visit www.rmtnet.co.uk/take-control or call (01527) 500333.