Lothian and Borders launch motorbike campaign
March 04 2008
Lothian and Borders Police will be launching "What's around the corner?", the innovative motorbike safety campaign at this year's Scottish Motorcycle Show on Saturday 8 March.
What's around the corner is a proactive motorbike campaign for the Scottish Borders. Police motorcyclists will be interacting with leisure bikers over the summer to provide them with information about the Borders roads to help them have a safe ride.
Working in partnership with Knockhill Racing Circuit, Eastern and Western Motor Group and the Scottish Borders Council, the ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of collisions and the severity of any injuries. In 2007, five people were killed in biking collisions and a further 16 were seriously injured, all in the Borders region.
Two routes heavily used by bikers have been identified, they've been assessed by police motorcyclists and their advice has been included on special route plans, which will direct bikers through recognised accident areas. The routes can be downloaded from the campaign website and they show where the dangers are and where crashes have occurred in the past.
On the website, bikers can view the routes as they have been filmed by the advanced police motorcyclists whilst out on the runs.
Speaking ahead of the launch, British Supersport Rider, Dennis Hobbs gave his thumbs up to the campaign and said:
"Bikers must be well prepared before going out on a run, make sure your motorcycle is in good condition, make sure your skills haven't gone rusty over the winter. I've learnt through years of experience how to read a track and the same skills can be used on a road, which is far more likely to change."
Bob Grant of Grant Racing added:
"Knowing what lies ahead is the only way to stay safe. Even if you know a road particularly well, it may well have changed. You never know what is around the corner. You can only avoid a danger if you give yourself time to react. Remember: enjoy yourself and stay safe."
Chief Constable David Strang of Lothian And Borders Police said:
"Year on year the amount of bikers injuring themselves is not decreasing. The desire for a road safety campaign aimed at bikers in the Scottish Borders has been borne out of the need to ensure bikers are aware of the dangers on the roads and to prevent as many future collisions as possible."
Chief Inspector Sandy Allan of Road Policing said:
"Despite bikers only representing 1% of the traffic on our roads they account for 25% of the collisions; there is a greater chance that a biker will be killed or seriously injured compared to a car driver. A great deal of crashes involve only one vehicle and they happen on bends. Our message is simple: enjoy what the Borders have to offer but recognise your own ability and read the road."
