Shropshire Star

Biker safety message spread at the pumps in Shropshire and Mid Wales

Petrol stations will be targeted as part of a new drive to cut down on the number of motorcyclist deaths on the roads of Shropshire and Mid Wales.

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Dyfed-Powys Police said it will advertise at petrol pumps and in the motorcycle press in a bid to reduce the number of deaths on the region's roads.

It says it is extremely concerned about the number of accidents this year, many of them involving bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands looking for thrilling rides on rural roads across the border.

The force said 11 motorcyclists have been killed since the start of the year in Dyfed-Powys. There has been one motorcyclist killed in Shropshire this year and none in Telford & Wrekin.

Superintendent Ieuan Matthews said he will work with motorcycle groups in a bid to cut the number of fatalities.

He said: "This is obviously a significant and troubling number of collisions and fatalities. We want this number to stop increasing and we want to reduce the number of casualties on the roads of Dyfed-Powys.

"We are reviewing the information we have in relation to the deaths and serious injuries and are seeking to understand and identify common trends that may be linked to road deaths and incidents.

"We are using this information to develop and implement a programme of prevention measures which include enforcement as well as a series of prevention messages on the radio, in the motorcyclist media and on petrol pump handles in fuel stations.

"We have had some notable cases where we have potentially saved lives. Officers reported a motorcyclist for riding at 128mph with a pillion passenger in Powys in June. Speeding is not acceptable on our roads."

Motorcyclists have long been identified as particularly vulnerable road users and out of the 27 fatalities so far this year, 11 of those were motorcyclists.

Supt Matthews added: "Road safety and casualty reduction is a priority for our roads policing officers who see the consequences of road tragedies first hand all too often.

"Road safety is the responsibility of each and every road user whatever vehicle they drive. There is no excuse for any motorists or motorcyclists taking risks on the roads."

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