In England and Wales during 2014 the number of serious injuries as a result of motorcycle collisions was at the highest level since 2009.
Based on the most up to date analysis covering 2014 however the total numbers of motorcyclist casualties in the North East however remain amongst the best in the country.
Bucking the national trend across Cleveland and Durham force areas actually fell in 2014 by 17% over 2013 taking it to the lowest number of motorcyclist casualties in ten years.
Despite our relative success however a number of riders across the region have died or received life changing injuries as a result of a collision and given their lack of passive safety any motorcyclist involved in a collision remains extremely vulnerable.
During 2014 the total number of motorcyclists casualties resulting from in collisions in Durham force area was 111 with a further 68 in Cleveland.
To remind riders of their vulnerability and to encourage them to take responsibility we have deployed the motorcycle advisory safety signs across the two force area in addition however many of these signs are also aimed at other road users to remind them to look out for bikes when for example at junctions where in there quarters of collisions the motorcyclist was not the most blameworthy vehicle.
In addition we held a BikeSafe workshop on Saturday providing riders with the opportunity to reflect upon their own skills when accompanied by a police rider and the opportunity to take up advanced riding skills through the IAM, further dates will be released throughout the year and more detail can be found on the BikeSafe website www.bikesafe.co.uk
We have released an article with advice on preparing your motorcycle particularly important when many bikes will have been stood up over winter.
http://www.bikewise.org.uk/news/newspagemain.php?subaction=showfull&id=1457271216&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Sgt Iain Rodgers said : ‘Officers across Cleveland and Durham will be actively engaging with motorcyclists to make sure they’re machines are fit and appropriate for the road and to remind riders of their own vulnerability, as well as checking over machines we will also urge all riders to take responsibility for their own riding by taking the next step to get some advanced training and reduce their chances of becoming a statistic ultimately we don’t want riders to learn by accident so let’s build upon our positive downward trend and keep our roads amongst the safest in the country !’.
Durham Advanced Motorcyclistswho are the countrys top IAM motorcycle group & have worked closely since their formation in 1995 can be reached via their website - http://www.durhamadvancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/
In addition 48 signs, advising motorists & motorcyclists of potentional dangers have been placed at the following locations :
Stockley Lane; B6301 Dan Castle; B6302 Cornsay Colliery; B6301 Lanchester; B6296 Lanchester dairies; B6296 High Stoop; B6296 High Stoop to Wolsingham; B6296 Wolsingham; A68 Harperley; A68 Hummerbeck; A688 Coundon Gate; A68 west Auckland; A688 West Auckland; B6279 Staindrop-darlington; B6279 Staindrop-Kinninve; A688 Bowes; B6277 Barnard Castle; Startforth; A167 Nevilles Cross; A691 Lanchester; A691 Witton Gilbert; Castleside Healeyfield Lane; Crawleyside; Edmundbyers x 2;
B6278 Stanhope; B6278 Stanhope to MIT; St. johns-langdon Beck; Langdon beck to St Johns; A689 Lane head; Teesdale county boundary; B6277 High Force; B6277 Newbiggin; B6277 Egglestone; A688 Thinford; A688 Tursdale; A177 Shincliffe;
A181 Sherburn Road; Broomside Lane Belmont; A690 Gilesgate; A177 South Road; A690 Stone Bridge; A167 Sniperley; A691 County Hall; Little Thorpe RAB; Bradbury; A691 Leadgate.