Bid to cut biker death toll

A campaign was today launched to cut the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in crashes on Shropshire's roads.Police will target key county motorcycle routes and roadside posters will be put up highlighting where drivers need to take more care.

The roads include the A442, A458 and A454 at Bridgnorth, the A442 from Telford to Whitchurch and the A41 from Albrighton to Whitchurch.

The campaign has been launched by West Mercia's Safer Roads Partnership.

It said motorcycles last year represented one per cent of road traffic but accounted for 18 per cent of all fatalities nationally.

And over the past three years in the Shropshire and Telford police divisions there were 28 fatalities and 542 casualties after collisions involving motorcycles, which represented 28 per cent of all roads deaths in Shropshire and Telford.

The partnership will offer free RideCheck assessments through the Institute of Advanced Motorists to motorcyclists living within West Mercia.

RideCheck is aimed at everyone interested in safer motorbike riding. It takes about an hour and is run by IAM groups.

RideCheck candidates also become an associate of the IAM, for a period of 12 months, entitling members to regular newsletters, magazines and other offers.

The partnership will also run advertising on buses and within petrol stations this month and next.

Vicki Bristow, communications manager for the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, said:

"Shropshire has some excellent biking roads and as such attracts many riders to the area, particularly at weekends and when the weather is good.

"This campaign is aiming to make motorcyclists and car users more aware of the risks that are present when they are out on the county's roads and to also increase the level of training on offer to motorcyclists within Shropshire."

Sergeant John Roberts, of West Mercia Constabulary, said: "Encouraging people to ride safely is an important part of the Constabulary's 'Seven Deadly Sins' road safety strategy and we welcome the IAM initiative, which will seek to improve riders' skills and awareness and encourage them to take further training to reduce the risks of collisions."